Expert: Mohammed - 10/16/2006

Question
Mohammed, I am interested to know where and how Arab history and culture was first manifest. What, if any, very early Arab architecture still exists?
I realise that in the west we tend to improperly lump Chaldean, Assyrian, Babylonian, Syriac etc. culture and history in with the Arabic, but I am considering what might have been the earliest flowering of 'pure' and 'original' Arabic culture. Were the Nabateans (ancient Petra) a truly Arabic people - I am unclear about this? Is it known how old the fortress of al-Jawf (Qasr Marid)is? Are any attempts being made to preserve this ancient fortress from further decay? Is any great proportion of Arab wealth derived from oil allocated to preserving Arab history and culture?
Sorry Mohammed, lots of questions here - but where else can I ask them?
Thanks
Tony  

Answer
Dear Tony,
I am sorry that I can’t answer most of your questions. They need some one who is specialized in the Arabic History.
I will give you some emails of some organizations that may be able to help you:

1-   Hamad AlJaser Culture center (Saudi Arabia):
web: www.hamadaljasser.com, email: info@hamadaljasser.com

2-   Arab Thought Foundation (Lebanon):
Web: www.arabthought.org, email: info@arabthought.org

3-   Syrian Ministry of Tourism (Syria):
Web: http://www.syriatourism.org/


The following page from the third website talks about “Qasr al-Hir al-Sharqi” which is one old Arab architecture:
http://www.syriatourism.org/index.php?module=subjects&func=viewpage&pageid=1616

Regards
Mohammed Hammoud