Ancient Yathrib was the pre-Islamic name of the city that later became known as Medina. During its known history, from the Late Bronze Age into the Iron Age, Yathrib was a multi-tribal oasis town with a complex demographic makeup comprising several Arab clans—primarily the Aws and Khazraj—as well as significant Jewish tribes such as Banū Qaynuqāʿ, Banū al-Naḍīr, and Banū Qurayẓah. Its strategic location on caravan routes, including the Iron Age and later period Incense Trade Route, and access to agricultural resources, particularly date palm cultivation, contributed to its economic importance. The name "Yathrib" appears in both pre-Islamic poetry and epigraphic records, and it is mentioned once in the Qur’an (33:13) in a historical context. The city played a pivotal role in early Islamic history, particularly as the destination of the Hijrah (migration) of the Prophet Muhammad in 622 CE, after which it came to be known as al-Madīnah, “The City”.
The ancient city of Yathrib, located in the northwestern part of the Arabian Peninsula, had been inhabited since at least the Late Bronze Age. It was known for its agricultural activities, particularly date cultivation, and it served as a trade center in the Arabian Peninsula. However, the continuous tribal conflicts in Yathrib had created an unstable and tense atmosphere. The city was divided into different quarters, each inhabited by various tribes, and these divisions often led to skirmishes and disputes.
Yathrib had no centralized authority, and leadership was often based on tribal alliances and this absence of a unified leadership structure contributed to the city's internal divisions. During antiquity ancient Yathrib was home to various religious beliefs and practices, including polytheism and had a mix of Arab paganism, Judaism, and other local traditions. In the Iron Age context, the social structure remained tribal-centric, with a strong emphasis on kinship ties and alliances.
The renaming of Yathib city to Madinat al-Nabi (meaning "The City of the Prophet") occurred circa 623-24 CE after the Prophet Muhammad's migration from Mecca to Yathrib a year earlier in 622 CE.
circa 1700 BCE to 600 CE
The pre-Islamic Yathrib was characterized by a complex social and political landscape. Yathrib was originally settled by various Arab tribes, with the two main tribes being the Aws and the Khazraj. These tribes had a history of longstanding conflicts and rivalries.
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The Madain Project is an online archive of Abrahamic History and Archaeology.
Abrahamic History & Archaeology is the study of history and archaeology with respect to the three Abrahamic Faiths without considering the religious and theological aspects. The goal of Abrahamic History is to understand how and why the religious doctrines and behaviours have evlovled and changed over time. Searching for patterns in the evolution of significant cultural events such as the development of farming, the emergence of cities, or the collapse of major civilizations for clues of why and how these have influenced the three major Abrahamic religions.
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