How has arabia's "crossroads" location affected its culture and society

Arabia is quite famous--ever heard of the Thousand and One Arabian Nights story? The entire creation of this "one" story is actually a compilation of many different stories from both West and South Asia. However, the entire Thousand and One Arabian Nights story has a main frame story that everything else relies on. This is just one example of how Arabia's "crossroads" location affect its culture and society. Go and look at their government :)