Until the advent of Islam, Arabs and their culture remained almost entirely on the Arabian Peninsula. But the birth of the religion resulted in a cultural and economic flourishing in seventh-century Arabia.

This, in turn, led to a spectacular spreading and mixing of cultures, as Arabs traveled throughout the Middle East, North Africa, and Spain and into central and southern Asia. The result today is an incredibly diverse culture, where both nomadic Bedouin and long-time urban dwellers call themselves Arabs.

Despite their diversity, Arabs throughout the world share cultural ideas and practices, including a common faith (more than 90 percent are Muslims) and language (Arabic), traditional gender roles, and ritualized ideas of honor, hospitality, and generosity.

An important feature of the Arab world is the honor code, which dictates certain behaviors among family members to preserve a family's reputation and help its members in times of need. For men, honorable behavior traditionally means supporting their families economically and defending the reputations of relatives, particularly women.

For women, honorable behavior traditionally translates into being loving mothers and wives, running efficient and generous households, and acting in modest and respectable ways.

Arab families are typically very close, and homelife is seen as the reward for hard work. While the life of a family remains quite private, Arab hospitality is famous. Arabs are generally quick to invite strangers to join them for a meal. Their hospitality and generosity are sincerely offered, and as a result, friendships are intense, with sincerity and kindness expected in return.