Of the amenities of civilized life, the Arabs knew
nothing. Their chief occupation was trade, and to this
end they sent their caravans to far-off places, such as Abyssinia, Syria, Palestine and even India. The rich among them were great admirers of Indian swords. Their
clothing needs were supplied largely by Yemen and
Syria. The trading centres were the towns. The rest of
Arabia, excepting Yemen and some northern parts, was
Bedouin. There were no permanent settlements, or
places of habitation. The tribes had divided the country
between them so that...