The Arkadians takes place in Greece when the Ancient Greek culture was just emerging. The word "Arkadia" refers to a part of Greece that was inhabited by shepherds; in Western literature, Arkadia has traditionally been the locale for stories of sheep and shepherds, ancient gods, and the forces of nature. Alexander probably uses the word to allude to the Arkadian (or Arcadian) tradition and to suggest the context of his setting—a culture that revolved around nature worship and a close relationship between human beings and the natural world.