Why was the thousand and one nights significant even beyond its important contribution to literature?

Beyond the literature importance, The Thousand and One Nights is a good way to learn and discover more the customs and social structure of the Arabian world of the 9th century.

Explanation:

We don't know the exact time when the Arabian Nights are passed, but the most recent date which these tales were compiled is the 9th century. In these stories, we are introduced to Sherazade and a king who loves stories. She tells him tales about several themes, and trough these stories we can know more about the culture, the customs, the beliefs and ideas of that period.