Here's what we know:
* Origin: The stories originated in the Middle East, likely in Persia (Iran) and Arabia.
* Early Collections: Early written collections were compiled in Arabic, likely in the 8th and 9th centuries.
* Evolution: The collection continued to grow and evolve over time, with new stories added and translated into other languages.
* Popularization: European translations in the 18th century, particularly by Antoine Galland, introduced the stories to a wider audience, making them a global phenomenon.
So, while there's no single author, "Arabian Nights" represents the collective creativity of generations of storytellers across the Middle East.