Riyadh Book Fair Hosts Lecture on Impact of Camels on Arab History, Culture

The Riyadh International Book Fair 2024 held a lecture on the role of camels in Arab history and culture, delivered by Turki bin Al-Ghanami, a member of the board of directors of the Saudi Society for Camel Studies. Furthermore, he discussed the influence of camels on Arab characteristics, noting how they are believed to have inherited both fierceness and gentleness, jealousy and vindictiveness, and loyalty to their territories simultaneously. He emphasized that Arabs do not view resembling camels as a negative trait but rather take pride in it. Al-Ghanami highlighted the fact that Arabs have not coexisted with any animal as they have with camels, marking a significant turning point in their history. The Arabs' reliance on camels led to the growth of their trade, expanding across land and sea borders from the southernmost part of the Arabian Peninsula to beyond the Mediterranean Sea basin, Al-Ghanami said. Thanks to camels, trade routes flourished, including the Incense and the Silk roads, and Arab liveli hoods improved due to their reliance on camel milk and meat as their staple diet, he stated. Camels became deeply ingrained in the Arab psyche, becoming partners in all aspects and details of their lives, he added. Source: Saudi Press Agency