One explanation for this culture of leisure is the hot, dry climate of the peninsula which allowed nomadic herding but permitted agriculture only in a small area (the southwest corner). Like other nomadic herders worldwide, the ancestors of most Saudis did not develop the habits (so-called work ethic), skills, infrastructure, etc. of agricultural societies that lead ultimately to present-day industrialisation. As a consequence, Saudis have rarely worked in the sense that other nationalities have worked. No product-based commercial economy existed until oil was discovered.