A) ECONOMY

The main economic activities were:

• Agriculture could not be practised in the Arabian Peninsula however it was very important in other parts of the islamic empires. The muslims obtained water using water wheels and irrigation channels to bring water to the farming lands.

•  Craftwork was located mainly in the cities. Leather work, tapestries, carpets, cotton, silk and wool textiles, jewellery, ivory, perfume and weapons were the crafts performed by the muslims.

• Trade was very influentional and there were local and long distance comercial routes. The souks or markets were located in the city center and were important exchanging centers. Muslims used coins such de dinar(gold), dírham (silver) and fals. The muslims traded by land and by sea with the East using the Silk Route  and also with African regions importing gold and ivory used in different craftworks.

B) SOCIETY

Society was made up of different groups:

1. Nobility was formed by people linked to emirs and caliphs. They got political and economic power and many of their members were from Arabia or had Arabic origin.
2. Free people was made up of government officials,  merchants, landowners, artisans, peasants, craftmen. Christians and Jews could mantain their properties as well as practice their religion in exchange of paying a special tax.
3. Slaves were prisoners of war or those bought in different places. They worked in agriculture and domestic service.

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