By: Habeeb Salloum/Contributing writer The last quarter of the fourth century in southern Syria, witnessed the reign of Mawiya (Mavia), the powerful warrior queen. She was an Arab who would come to personally lead her Arab army in battle, rebelling against Rome in the Roman occupied provinces of Palestine, Phoenicia, Arabia, what is today known … Continued
French and Moroccan Cuisine By: Habeeb Salloum/Contributing writer Did the Arabs have a hand in the formation of the world-renowned French cuisine? The very idea is, I am sure, preposterous to the majority of those enamoured with the cooking of Napoleon’s land. Yet, the Arabs did contribute a part of their culinary taste to … Continued
Ghoraf Ouled Soltan in Matmata, Tunisia By: Habeeb Salloum/Contributing Writer The winter sun shone brightly as we left the island of Jerba – Tunisia’s paradise isle – in the early morning. Our goals were the ghorfa towns surrounding Medenine, then later the cave homes of Matmata. After about a two-hour leisurely drive, we were near … Continued
Abu Al- ‘Ala’ Al-Ma’arri By: Habeeb Salloum/Contributing writer In April 2013 I received shocking news that fanatics from the terrorist organization Jabhat al-Nusra fighting to overthrow the Syrian government, beheaded the statue of one of the world’s greatest poet-philosophers, the 11th century Abu al- ‘Ala’ al-Ma’arri. He was one of my literary heroes. During my … Continued
By Habeeb Salloum/Contributing Writer An enormous variety of mazza (appetizers), from plain foods to sophisticated dishes are served in the homes or public eating places throughout Middle East and in many Middle Eastern restaurants in the Western world. At times, people forgo the meal after nibbling on these appetizers, which may range from a … Continued
Image: Statue of Averroes, Córdoba, Andalusia, Spain, Europe Read Part 1 of 2 HERE By: Habeeb Salloum/Contributing Writer In their golden years, the Arabs led the world in all fields of human knowledge and contributed immensely to the evolvement of the world of that time. This is attested to by the many Arabic words in the … Continued
By Habeeb Salloum/Contributing Writer Part 1 of 2 The impact of the Arabs on Western Civilization! I would venture to say that in the western world, especially in North America, the vast majority of people, and by the way even many in the Arab world, would think that this statement is a grossly exaggerated assertion … Continued
By: Habeeb Salloum/Contributing Writer Due to his work and inventions, Dr. Farouk El-Baz, a geologist and native of Egypt, has become a renowned American scientist, recognized for dramatic advances in studying arid lands using satellite remote-sensing technology. Under his directorship, the Center for Remote Sensing at Boston University has grown to become a leading force … Continued
Musandam peninsula, Oman. By Habeeb Salloum/Contributing Writer We had toured the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for a month and were awed with its hundreds upon hundreds of construction projects mushrooming in every town and city in this fast evolving land. Now, as with my daughter and wife along with a colleague we sipped our … Continued
By: Habeeb Salloum/Contributing writer Fiery, spicy and exciting is how most visitors who love fine foods usually describe the cuisine of the Caribbean Islands, collectively known as the West Indies. Their dishes, a world of gourmet delights, are a medley of African, Asiatic, European and Middle Eastern foods, enhanced by the Islands’ host of unique … Continued
By: Habeeb Salloum/Contributing writer It seemed that everyone in the audience was enveloped in rapture as the dancer twirled around the floor of the Sijilmassa Restaurant-Nightclub in Casablanca – Morocco’s largest city. She blended well into the surrounding picturesque Moorish-Andalusian architecture, creating a captivating scene from an oriental fantasy world. Western tourists, surrounded by the … Continued
An illustration by al-Jazari of the internal mechanics of an automated boat: al-Jazari BY: Habeeb Salloum/Contributing Writer After the Arabs in the 6th and 7th centuries occupied most of the ancient world, they fell heir, in the field of mechanics and engineering; to the early inventions of the Egyptians, Greeks, Indians, Persians and Romans. Between the … Continued
47 Results (Page 2 of 4)
Loading ...