Byzantine and Arab Civilizations: History and Culture
Byzantine Civilization: The Eastern Roman Empire
Constantinople was its political and theocratic center, ruled by a despotic monarchy. The system was characterized by Caesaropapism.
Arab Civilization: A Theocratic Society
Climate of the Arabian Peninsula
The Arabian Peninsula has an extremely hot and dry climate.
Oases and Their Importance
Oases are small, vegetated areas. Without them, the presence of nomadic peoples of Semitic origin in the region would be impossible.
Settlement of the Arabian Peninsula
Settlement
Read MoreSpanish Industry: Territorial Trends and Sector Analysis
Current territorial trends in Spanish industry:
- Main production sectors: Steel-based activities or metallurgy are primarily located along the Cantabrian coast, especially in the Basque Country and Asturias, where the major integrated steel mills in Spain are situated.
- Metallurgy processing and the manufacturing of all kinds of machinery are concentrated within the Barcelona-Basque Country-Madrid triangle.
- Vehicle manufacturing, mainly cars, is also found in this area. Large shipyards are located in
Energy Sources: A Comprehensive View
Energy Sources
Non-Renewable Sources
Petroleum
Origin: Sedimentary rocks, organic debris deposited on the seafloor.
Features: Most environmentally harmful; most valuable raw material with various derivatives.
Producers: Nigeria, Venezuela, Ecuador, Mexico, Kuwait, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Russia, UAE.
Brazil: Self-sufficient in crude oil (Pre-salt: ES to SC, Maritime: Campos Basin, Santos Basin, Continental: RN, BA, SE, PE, AL, MA).
Natural Gas
Origin: Similar to oil.
Features: Affordable, less polluting
Demographics and Labor Force in Catalonia
Catalonia’s Aging Population
The population over the age of 65 is quite large, representing 17% of the total population. This is due to the lengthening of life expectancy, especially in women. Recently, the number of people over 65 years old has surpassed the number of people in Catalonia between 0 and 15 years old.
Socio-professional Structure of the Population
Economic Activity
The population can also be classified according to their participation in economic activities, generally into two groups:
Read MoreSociety and Mindset in Spain: Education 1875-1903
Society and Mindset in Spain: Education (1875-1903)
Society was very polarized between a small group of privileged people, known as the Oligarchy, and a large impoverished mass. The middle classes were numerically small. The financial and landowning oligarchy, owners of land and bank capital, saw a merging of old and new nobility. The old nobility, in decline due to the effects of the Liberal Revolution, sought to solve their problems through marriage with the newly rich to ensure survival. These
Read MoreIslam: History, Culture, and Societal Impact
Daily Islamic Practices
Daily Islamic practices include:
- Believing in one God.
- Praying to Mecca five times a day.
Once in a lifetime:
- Pilgrimage to Mecca.
For one month a year:
- Fasting from dawn until sunset (Ramadan).
Byzantine Emperor Before Muhammad’s Birth
The Byzantine Emperor who ruled a few years before the birth of Muhammad was Justinian the Great.
People in the Iberian Peninsula in the 6th Century
The Visigoths established a kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula in the 6th century.