Final answer:
Arabs in the Arabian Peninsula led nomadic lives and organized into tribes ruled by sheikhs. They practiced polytheism and farmed and herded sheep in oases. Mecca became a key trade hub as other routes declined.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Arabs living in the Arabian Peninsula experienced harsh desert environments and led nomadic lives due to the hostile environmental conditions. They eventually organized into tribes, each ruled by a sheikh who was chosen by a council of elders from leading families.
Arabs lived as farmers and sheepherders on the oases. Early Arabs worshiped polytheism along with other tribal gods. The city of Mecca became important to new trade routes when southwest Asian routes became deteriorated.