Social and Economic Conditions In Per-Islamic Mecca

Bibliographic Data

ID8970271
AuthorsMahmood Ibrahim (University of California, Los Angeles, corresponding author)
Year1982
Volume14
Issue3
Pages343-358
Publication date1982-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal Middle East Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0020-7438 • E-ISSN: 1471-6380
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0020743800051977
OpenAlexW2121972621
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited6

Mecca's existence depended primarily on its location near the most important trade route in western Arabia which linked the surplus-producing region of Yemen with Syria. The route branched near Ayla in the north to proceed to Gaza on the Mediterranean and also to Egypt. Another route branched near Mecca to proceed in a northeasterly direction toward al-Ubulla, Ḥīra, and eventually Sasanid Persia. The commercially advantageous location of Mecca was enhanced further by the Zamzam waterwell which made Mecca a convenient stop in the trade of antiquity. Also the concept of the ḥaram , the sacred area, and its center, the Ka⊂ba, made Mecca the object of pilgrimage during the sacred months, pilgrims/merchants traveled with security of life and property and went to Mecca to trade their commodities

Ancient history · Archaeology · Geography · Islam · Middle East · Object (grammar · Pilgrimage · Archaeology and Historical Studies · Global Maritime and Colonial Histories · History · Islamic Studies and History · Philosophy