DiscoverThe Economic History PodcastFrom the Sand Up: How the Natural Environment shaped the Arabian Economy
From the Sand Up: How the Natural Environment shaped the Arabian Economy

From the Sand Up: How the Natural Environment shaped the Arabian Economy

Update: 2025-06-30
Share

Description

Prof. Robert Allen discusses how the desert environment led to a unique economic structure-"from the sand up". Bob takes us through the economic implication of communal lands and describes the differences between the nomadic (Bedouin) and oasis economies. He suggests that religious structures were convenient in eventually consolidating various regions/tribes in the form of states. We also consider the incentives for a unique type of slavery, that arose from the nature of date farming/pearl diving in contrast to the Caribbean sugar plantation experience. 

Comments 
00:00
00:00
x

0.5x

0.8x

1.0x

1.25x

1.5x

2.0x

3.0x

Sleep Timer

Off

End of Episode

5 Minutes

10 Minutes

15 Minutes

30 Minutes

45 Minutes

60 Minutes

120 Minutes

From the Sand Up: How the Natural Environment shaped the Arabian Economy

From the Sand Up: How the Natural Environment shaped the Arabian Economy

Seán Kenny