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Arabian tribes facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Map of Arabia 600 AD
This map shows where some important tribes and empires were located in the Arabian Peninsula around 600 CE, when Islam began.

The Arabian Peninsula is a large area in the Middle East. For thousands of years, many different groups of people called tribes lived there. A tribe is like a big family or community that shares a common ancestor and lives together. These tribes were very important to how people lived, traveled, and traded in ancient Arabia. They often moved around, especially in the deserts, looking for water and food for their animals.

What Are Arab Tribes?

Tribes were the main way people organized themselves in ancient Arabia. Each tribe had its own leaders and rules. Being part of a tribe meant you had protection and support from your community. People in tribes often helped each other with daily tasks, traded goods, and sometimes even fought together to protect their land or resources.

Life in the Arabian Peninsula was often challenging, with vast deserts and limited water. Tribes learned to live in these conditions, moving from place to place. They were skilled at trading and navigating the desert. Many tribes were nomadic, meaning they traveled from one place to another instead of staying in one permanent home.

Tribes of Northern Arabia

The northern part of the Arabian Peninsula was home to many powerful tribes. This area was often closer to other big empires, which sometimes led to trade or conflicts. These tribes played a big role in controlling trade routes that passed through the region.

Here are some of the tribes that lived in Northern Arabia:

  • Ghassan
  • Anizzah
  • Lakhm
  • Taghlib
  • Salih
  • Kalb
  • Bahraa
  • Judham
  • Tayy
  • Bakr ibn Wa'il
  • Udhrah
  • Abs
  • Tamim
  • Bali

Tribes of Central and Southern Arabia

The central and southern parts of Arabia also had many important tribes. The southern region, especially, had fertile areas and was known for its ancient kingdoms and trade in valuable spices like frankincense and myrrh. Tribes in these areas often controlled important oases and trade routes.

Here are some of the tribes that lived in Central and Southern Arabia:

  • Juhaynah
  • Ghatafan
  • Asad
  • Numayr
  • Abd ul Qays
  • Sulaym
  • Hanifa
  • Hizzan
  • Khuzaah
  • Kilab
  • Bahila
  • Dhabbah
  • Hadhayl
  • Quraysh
  • Hawazan
  • Kaab
  • Thaqif
  • Hilal
  • Uqayl
  • Kinanah
  • Daws
  • Azd
  • Mudhal
  • Khatham
  • Harith
  • Hamadan
  • Murad
  • Maafir
  • Yafi
  • Ans
  • Kindah
  • Mahrah
  • Azd Uman

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Tribus de Arabia para niños

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Arabian tribes Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.