Arab Daily Life
A short look at the traditional foods, clothing, housing, and lifestyles of Arab cultures.
Traditional Arab Lifestyles
There has never been a single way of life among Arab peoples. The nomadic warriors who launched the early Muslim conquests led very different lives than a resident of medieval Baghdad, Ottoman Cairo, or modern Dubai. Today, the citizens of the 22 Arab League nations eat regional cuisine, wear local clothing styles, and live in housing according to their wealth and location. There are, however, several notable trends that have defined Arab life through history.
Arab Cuisine
Arab cuisine began with the simple diets of desert herders, hunters, and farmers. Over time, it has grown to encompass the ingredients and dishes of many cultures. The Bedouins, a nomadic desert people, traditionally survived on foods like dates, dairy, mutton, goat, and game animals. Arabs who settled near rivers and oases, meanwhile, grew grain crops, figs, and various vegetables. Along the coasts, fish also played an important dietary role. Pork and alcohol are both prohibited by Islamic law, though wine and spirits have sometimes been tolerated. Meats must be butchered and prepared according to a religious custom known as halal.
The Islamic world grew to include diverse climates, cultures, and tastes. Persia, for example, is best known for its contributions of sweets, rice, and citrus fruits. The Maghreb region favored couscous, a wheat-based pasta. The Turks, meanwhile, introduced yogurts, kebabs, and bulgur wheat, among other dishes. India, China, and Egypt also influenced Arab diets, particularly through their use of spices. Islamic conquests carried these culinary traditions as far as Southern Spain, which in turn brought them to the Americas and the rest of Europe. Coffee spread from Yemeni Sufi monasteries in the 15th century and soon became a popular beverage worldwide. In this way, Arab cuisine has had a global impact.
Historic Arab Housing
The materials, size, and furnishing of traditional Arab houses are highly varied. In the harsh Arabian desert, for example, nomadic Bedouins lived in black wool or goat-hair tents. These tents made it easy to move quickly, providing both ventilation and protection from the sun. In the cities, however, families lived in mud-brick, stone, or more rarely timber houses. These tended to be two stories tall, generally topped by a flat roof. This roof could be used as a space for work or relaxation. Most homes were divided into separate working, living, and entertaining spaces. Women often possessed their own portions of the home that men did not enter, and vice-versa.
One common element of Arab architecture still seen today is the courtyard. Courtyards, surrounded by living and entertaining spaces, allow for greater privacy and climate control than an external yard. They often include fountains, plants, and other decorative elements.
Traditional Arab Dress
Both men and women are expected to dress modestly under Islamic teachings. The extent to which this policy is enforced, as well as the continued use of traditional apparel, depends on the nation and individual preference. The most common form of male apparel is the thawb, a type of long robe or tunic made from wool or cotton. It may be covered by an outer cloak, such as the bisht, and accompanied by headwear like the ghutrah, keffiyeh, or shemagh. Women may also wear a thawb and trousers, often covered in public by an abaya cloak and headscarf, or hijab. More conservative women may instead wear a niqab or burqa veil.
Modern Arab Lifestyles
Modern Arab people lead any number of lifestyles. They may wear customary clothing, Western attire, or both. While traditional housing styles are still common in rural areas, they have largely been replaced by apartments and suburban-style houses in major cities. Families may work in modern, technical industries or pursue traditional lifestyles like fishing or farming. Values such as hospitality and respect for the family remain central to many Arab people, as does the Islamic faith. Many Muslim worshippers continue to pray five times a day, respect religious laws, and attend services at local mosques. Football, or soccer, and local sports like camel or horse racing are widely popular.
Further Reading:
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References
Barakat, Halim. The Arab World: Society, Culture, and State. University of California Press. 1993.
Habib Hourani, Albert and Malise Ruthven. A History of the Arab Peoples. Harvard University Press. 2002.
Hitti, Philip Khuri. The Arabs: A Short History. Regnery Publishing. 1996.
Ragette, Friedrich. Traditional Domestic Architecture of the Arab Region. Edition Axel Menges. 2003.
Reynolds, Dwight F., ed. The Cambridge Companion to Modern Arab Culture. Cambridge University Press. 2015.
Rosenberger, Bernard. “Arab Cuisine and its Contribution to European Culture.” Food: A Culinary History. Jean-Louis Flandrin and Massimo Montanari, eds. Columbia University Press. 2013.
Warnock Fernea, Elizabeth and Robert A. Fernea. The Arab World. Knopf Doubleday Publishing. 2011.
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