A landmark achievement in the historical study of the Arabian peninsula, this book provides a sweeping survey of the region's past, from the earliest human settlements to the modern era. It explores the rich cultural diversity of Arabia, including its religious traditions, social structures, and economic systems. With impeccable scholarship and engaging prose, Crichton illuminates a fascinating and complex corner of the world. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.