Arabs are one ethnos of a related group, the Semites, including Arabs, Palestinians, Jews, and Phoenicians (and Carthaginians), Assyrians, Babylonians, Chaldaeans etc. They are grouped together because of similarities of language, ancient religion and ancient culture, and DNA studies have largely confirmed their common ancestry. The Phoenicians and other ancient kingdoms have been absorbed by other surrounding cultures in the last 2500 years, and the others have undergone many changes.

The biggest change involved the Jews, who, already dispersed as a trading culture before the Roman occupation, were scattered thoroughly afterwards and different groups (Ashkenazy, Sephardi, Falashas and several others) developed independently. Their cultural character and group mythology has been much influenced by the persistent persecution that they have suffered since, but which also helped to conserve their cultural identity against absorption into the surrounding communities.

The Arabs of Arabia delevoped Islam. Prior to Mohammed, Islam simply didn't exist, and the peoples of Arabia were Animist, with communities of Christians and Jews. Mohammed was inspired by Jewish and Christian teaching and had the advantage of seeing them in action. The Moslem expansion of the 7th Century gave them control and influence over much of North Africa and the Middle East, and the Arab culture mixed with and influenced many others in that area, including non-Jewish Semites, Berbers, Bedouin etc.

They also conquered or otherwise influenced many other non- related peoples- Persians, Kurds, Vandals and other Europeans who had settled in Africa and Spain, Tartars, Mongols, Turks, Indians of various ethnic origins, Malays, Indonesians etc.

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