Moral influence.—1. As manifested by Jewish writers of modern Europe, identified with that of the literature of the particular country which produced it.
2. As manifested by the Rabbinical writers anterior to the revival of literature, and subsequent to the dispersion, limited, or nearly limited, to the Semitic nations.
3. As manifested in the evolution of monotheistic creeds co-extensive with a. Judaism Proper. b. Christianity. c. Mahometanism.
ARABS.
Physical conformation.—Face, oval; forehead, vaulted; nose, straight or aquiline; lips, thin, even when thick not projecting; hair, wavy or curled; complexion, various shades of brown; limbs, spare.
With the Arab of Africa, the colour is sometimes nearly black, the frame more massive, and limbs more fleshy than in the Peninsula.
Religion.—Originally Sabæanism; since the Hejirah, Mahometanism.
Alphabets.—1. That of the Koran, based on the Cufic forms of the Syriac 2. That of the Himyarite inscriptions, akin to the Æthiopic.
Languages.—1. Arabic Proper.—A. Ancient—of the Koran. B. Modern—of a. The greater part of the Arabian peninsula. b. Syria. c. Ægypt. d. Western Africa.