Pre Islamic Context: Arabia

Pre Islamic Context

Arabia

• The Sassanid Empire and Roman Byzantine Empire were at war
• Contained the Jewish and the Samaritans
• Many Arabian Kingdoms
• Pre Islamic Religious scene: Polytheistic society & Ancient Arabian Gods (many were female)

The Sassanids

• Last Iranian empire before the rise of Islam
• War tensions
• Fight over sovereignty

Zoroastrianism

• Official religion of the Sassanids
• Minority in Iran today
• Cosmic dualism: good & evil
• …