Did idol worshipping stopped after Noah flood, how did it came back ( if the whole idol worshipping population was wiped?) in same manner People do remember names , stories move so its quite plausible?
Kabba at time of Prophet Muhammad was a place was a center of trade, Quraish tribe at the time in order to legitimize their influence use religion and put all the known popular Idols around Kabba so this Arab become center of trade and religion so as many people visit this area and will give economy a boost and themselves political power and influence