While there are a lot of parallels to conflicts in the middle east, Dune was largely inspired by the Russian empire's war against the people of the Caucuses that were united by Imam Shamyl in the 1800s. The book The Sabres of Paradise details Shamyl's life and the conflict and much of the Fremen culture is basically lifted wholesale from it.
While there are a lot of parallels to conflicts in the middle east, Dune was largely inspired by the Russian empire's war against the people of the Caucuses that were united by Imam Shamyl in the 1800s. The book The Sabres of Paradise details Shamyl's life and the conflict and much of the Fremen culture is basically lifted wholesale from it.