Encyclopedia of Islam

Further reading: Lila Abu-Lughod, Veiled Sentiments: 

Honor and Poetry in a Bedouin Society (Berkeley: Uni-

versity of California Press, 1999); J. G. Peristiany and 

J. Pitt-Rivers, eds., Honor and Grace in Anthropology

(Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1991).

horse

Horses were treasured 

animals

 in the Islamicate 

societies of the premodern Middle East, where 

they served as mounts for warriors and became 

symbols of chivalry and manliness. The most 

famous breed is the Arabian horse, a small, swift 

riding animal known for its beauty and intelli-

gence. Its strength and maneuverability made it 

a valuable asset in battle, and it is credited with 

having been an important factor in the successful 

Arab conquest of the Middle East, North Africa,