[mamelukesabre]

huh?

In the time of alexander the great, the interior of arabia was for the most part uninhabited...a vast wasteland. iirc.

[aruanan]

huh?

In the time of alexander the great, the interior of arabia was for the most part uninhabited...a vast wasteland. iirc.

From the first century AD on, the Arabian Peninsula was a place of refuge for both Jews and Christians, especially trying to escape the wars between Rome and the Persians. During this time the Bedouins of the Arabian Peninsula hired themselves out as mercenaries to both sides. A bout of Black Death from Africa near Mohammed's time screwed over that gig big time. The Bedouins were united under Islam to exploit the weakness. Mohammed had first approached Christians and Jews with his syncretism, playing up prayers toward Jerusalem, affinity with Abraham, Jesus as a prophet, etc., and was told to pound sand. His first military actions were to wipe out both Christians and Jews from the Arabian Peninsula.