Actually, Dune is based on 'Seven Pillars of Wisdom' by T.E. Lawrence (1935). Story: Western powers (UK, Germany) are rivals over the resources of the sand dunes of Arabia. The Germans have suppressed the Arab people (Free Men) who live in the desert. Lawrence (the young Duke), a Western outsider, assimilates into the desert Arab communities and leads an uprising against the cruel German oppressors who are taking out the resources. Swap oil for spice and Germans for Harkonenns and you've got the Dune story. Herbert just set the same tale on another planet and added worms. PS. There’s also a film version called Lawrence of Arabia.