Warm-up #1 Why did towns in the Arabian Peninsula often develop around oases? Why do you think that the Arabian Peninsula would become a center for trade?

Geography of the Arabian Peninsula Oasis Sedentary Nomads Bedouins Clans Caravan souk

Oasis – a wet, fertile area in the desert formed by underground water bubbling to the surface.

Sedentary: people who are settled, living in a place permanently.

Nomads – people with no permanent homes Nomads – people with no permanent homes. Nomads in the Arabian Peninsula, including Bedouins, lived in tents and moved between oases as the water dried up and the seasons changed. Clans or tribes shared water and land while protecting each other from desert dangers.

Bedouins: nomadic Arab herders who moved within a specific area seeking water and grazing land for their herds.

Clans: Bedouins lived in families of people related by blood or marriage, called clans. Each clan ruled itself and provided security and support for its members. Clans would often fight each other.

Caravan: a group of traders who travel together.

Souk: a market or bazaar where nomads traded goods from the desert with merchants trading goods from caravans.