The purpose of this book by British orientalist and specialist in the history of Islam and ancient languages De Lacy O'Leary is to show the reader that pre-Islamic Arabia, as the center of the Arab community, was not a country isolated from the cultural influence of Western Asia and from the political and social life of its neighbors in the Middle East. The book examines in detail the ancient kingdoms that existed on the territory of Arabia, their communication with each other and with the outside world, much attention is paid to the description of trade routes and the struggle for them.