Hey fellow adventurers! I hope I can cover Saudi Arabia’s history justly! If you feel anything needs expanding upon, please feel free to tell me in the comment section below! And as always, I highly encourage you to look deeper into anything in this post that interests you. And for those of you living in the United States, Happy Labor Day! I hope you’re enjoying your extended weekend!
For much of the history of the Arabian Peninsula, tribal rulers controlled most of the territory. In 570 CE, the prophet Muhammad was born in Mecca. In 622 CE, he moved to Medina and began to unite the tribes of Arabia under the banner of Islam. To this day, Mecca and Medina remain the most spiritually important places in the Muslim world.
In the 19th century CE, the Al Saud family fought nomadic tribes for territory within the Arabian Peninsula, especially the Rashidi family. In 1902, Abd-al-Aziz Bin-Abd-al-Rahman Bin-Faysal Bin-Turki Bin-Abdallah Bin-Muhammad Al Saud (often known as Ibn Saud) took control of Riyadh and gave the Saudi family the upper hand. In 1912, the Ikhwan (Brotherhood) was founded based on Wahhabism and promised to help Ibn Saud conquer the Arabian Peninsula. With the help of the Ikhwan, the Saud family started gaining more and more territory, until they finally took the holy cities, Mecca and Medina in 1925. In 1928, the Ikhwan turned against the Saudi family after the family welcomed non-Muslims into the territory and tried to modernize the region, and were defeated in 1930. In 1932, all the territories are united into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with Ibn Saud crowned King.
Eureka! In 1938, oil is discovered and production begins under the US-controlled Aramco (the Arabian American Oil Company). In 1960, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Kuwait, Iraq and Iran founded the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) whose mission is to “coordinate and unify the petroleum policies of its member countries and ensure the stabilization of oil markets, in order to secure an efficient, economic and regular supply of petroleum to consumers, a steady income to producers, and a fair return on capital for those investing in the petroleum industry.” In 1972, Saudi Arabia gains 20% of Aramco, and in 1980 they take full control of Aramco so the US can’t control the oil in Saudi Arabia. In 1973, Saudi Arabia boycotts the western countries that supported Israel in the October war, quadrupling gas prices.
In 1981, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates founded the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) with the intention to strengthen relations amongst participating countries and promote cooperation amongst the countries’ citizens. In 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait which Saudi Arabia quickly condemned and requested the assistance of the United States to defeat Iraq. The United States responded by stationing troops in Saudi Arabia so they could push Iraqi forces out of Kuwait. However, removing the presence of American troops once the war ended became one of the main goals of Al-Qaeda (a terrorist group consisting of mostly Saudi citizens).
In the 1990’s, Al-Qaeda increases the number of terrorist incidents against western targets. All this eventually escalates and leads to the attacks of September 11th, 2001 in which 15 out of the 19 terrorists were Saudi nationalists (I’ll cover this subject in greater depth later). In which King Fahd’s response is to state that they need to work on the eradication of terrorism. In 2003, the United States pulls almost all their troops out of Saudi Arabia. King Fahd gives the Consultative Council (a legislative body that represents individual districts) more power, allowing them to propose legislation without his permission.
Once again, there’s an increase in Al-Qaeda related terrorist attacks as Saudi Arabia fights back against extremism. In 2007, the religious police are banned from detaining subjects. Starting in 2009, major reforms started to take place including the first woman minister, the sacking of the head of the religious police and the act of modernizing the government. The Arab Spring (protests due to deep seated resentment of the aging Arab ruler class, unemployment and corruption within the government) came to Saudi Arabia in 2011. This helped lead to an increase in women protests (protesting not only about that but also against things like the ban that states women aren’t allowed to drive). These protests weren’t effective in bringing about change. In response King Fahd announces an increase in welfare spending, his intent on creating more jobs and the intention to grant more rights to women. In 2012, women were allowed to compete in the Olympics, and in 2013 women are added to the Consultative Council for the first time.
In 2013, Saudi Arabia rejects an offer for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council because King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud believed that the UN was not doing enough to help Syria. Meanwhile, they continue to tighten laws against terrorists, labelling Islamic groups as terrorist organizations and banning any funding and/or support for those organizations listed; as well as participating with other Arab states in airstrikes against Islamic state militants. The government approves for far reaching reforms to diversify the economy away from oil. This year, Saudi Arabia sparks a diplomatic crisis by leading an air, land and sea blockade by Arab countries, to get Qatar to cut its alleged connections with terrorism and distance itself from Iran.
The past and present kings of Saudi Arabia:
- Ibn Saud (1932-1952): he fought for the territory that is now Saudi Arabia, ruled as king for 21 years and started a large-scale oil production that made his family rich.
- Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (1953-1964): a lot of people gave him a hard time because when the Saud debt began piling up, rather than cut back on his lavish lifestyle, he cut government programs instead and was eventually forced by his family to abdicate the throne.
- Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (1964-1975): he was known for rescuing the country’s finances and implementing a policy of modernization and reform before being assassinated by his nephew Faisal bin Musaid in 1975.
- Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (1975-1982): he showed an interest in improving the education, health-care and infrastructure of the country but failed to monopolize the power during his reign and was unsuccessful.
- Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (1982-2005): he was a supporter of the United Nations and spent a lot of money on improving religious education for his country.
- Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (2005-2015): he maintained strong relations with other countries, gave women the right to vote for municipal councils and to compete in the Olympics, and maintained the status quo during the Arab Spring.
- Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (2015-?): he is the current king of Saudi Arabia and has so far ordered the bombing of Yemen and has lost support after the Mina Stampede in 2015 when over 2,400 people died during their Hajj pilgrimage.
If you prefer videos, please feel free to check out this short animation:
That wraps us this history portion. Thank you all for reading my blog! Until our next adventure! 😊
Pretty part of content. I just stumbled
upon your weblog and in accession capital to assert that I
get actually loved account your weblog posts.
Any way I will be subscribing on your augment and even I achievement you access constantly rapidly.
Hi there, I check your blogs like every week. Your humoristic style is awesome, keep it up!
My partner and I stumbled over here different web address and thought I should check
things out. I like what I see so i am just following you.
Look forward to looking into your web page yet again.
I am really enjoying the theme/design of your web site. Do you ever run into any browser compatibility problems?
A small number of my blog readers have complained about my blog
not operating correctly in Explorer but looks great in Firefox.
Do you have any ideas to help fix this problem?
Excellent website you have here but I was
wondering if you knew of any forums that cover the same topics talked about
here? I’d really love to be a part of online community where I can get suggestions from other experienced people that share the same
interest. If you have any recommendations,
please let me know. Thanks a lot!
Greetings! Very helpful advice within this post! It’s the little changes that produce the most
significant changes. Thanks for sharing!
If you want to obtain much from this paragraph then you have to apply these strategies to your won blog.
This information is invaluable. How can I find out more?
Good day! I simply want to give you a huge thumbs up for your great
information you’ve got right here on this post. I’ll be coming
back to your blog for more soon.
Wow! Finally I got a blog from where I can truly get valuable data concerning
my study and knowledge.
Magnificent website. A lot of useful information here.
I am sending it to several friends ans also sharing in delicious.
And obviously, thanks for your sweat!
I always used to read article in news papers but now as I am a user of web thus from now I am using net for articles, thanks to web.
Hey very nice blog!
Great weblog right here! Additionally your website a lot up very fast!
What web host are you the usage of? Can I get your affiliate hyperlink on your host?
I wish my web site loaded up as quickly as yours lol
What a data of un-ambiguity and preserveness of precious experience concerning unexpected emotions.
My partner and I stumbled over here coming from a
different web address and thought I may as well check things out.
I like what I see so now i am following you. Look forward to looking over your web page for a second time.
Having read this I believed it was really enlightening. I appreciate you spending some time and effort to put this short article together.
I once again find myself personally spending way too much time both reading and commenting.
But so what, it was still worth it!
Hey! I understand this is somewhat off-topic but
I had to ask. Does building a well-established website
such as yours require a massive amount work? I’m brand new to operating a blog however I do write in my diary every day.
I’d like to start a blog so I will be able to share my own experience and feelings online.
Please let me know if you have any kind of suggestions
or tips for brand new aspiring blog owners. Thankyou!
Keep on working, great job!
Very nice post. I simply stumbled upon your blog and wished
to say that I’ve really enjoyed surfing around your blog posts.
After all I’ll be subscribing in your feed and I hope you write once more
very soon!
What’s Going down i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I have discovered It positively helpful and it has aided me out loads.
I hope to give a contribution & assist different users like its helped
me. Great job.
Wonderful items from you, man. I have bear in mind your
stuff prior to and you’re just too great. I actually like what you’ve obtained here, certainly like what you are saying and the
best way through which you assert it. You’re making it enjoyable and you
still care for to keep it smart. I cant wait to
learn much more from you. This is actually a wonderful site.
Please let me know if you’re looking for a article writer for your weblog.
You have some really good posts and I feel I would be a good asset.
If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d absolutely
love to write some articles for your blog in exchange for
a link back to mine. Please send me an e-mail if interested.
Cheers!
Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is a really well written article.
I will be sure to bookmark it and come back to read
more of your useful information. Thanks for the post.
I’ll definitely return.
Hi, I do believe this is a great blog. I stumbledupon it 😉 I am going to return once
again since i have saved as a favorite it. Money
and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and continue
to guide other people.
I used to be able to find good information from your articles.
I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you?
Plz answer back as I’m looking to design my own blog and
would like to know where u got this from. thanks a lot
Very good post. I absolutely love this website.
Stick with it!
Good day! Do you know if they make any plugins to safeguard against hackers?
I’m kinda paranoid about losing everything I’ve worked hard on.
Any suggestions?
I needed to thank you for this very good read!! I absolutely loved every
little bit of it. I have got you book-marked to look at new things
you post…
Hello to every body, it’s my first pay a quick visit of this webpage; this website contains remarkable and really good data designed for readers.
It’s an amazing paragraph in favor of all the web users; they will obtain benefit
from it I am sure.
Hi there i am kavin, its my first occasion to commenting anyplace, when i read this article i thought i could also create comment due
to this good post.
Asking questions are in fact nice thing if you are not understanding anything completely, however this post
presents pleasant understanding even.
Hi there everyone, it’s my first pay a visit at this web
page, and paragraph is actually fruitful designed for
me, keep up posting such posts.
I know this web page provides quality dependent content and additional stuff, is there any other web
page which presents these information in quality?
I’d like to find out more? I’d want to find out some additional information.
I got this web site from my buddy who informed me about
this web page and now this time I am visiting this web site and reading very informative articles here.
What’s up, this weekend is nice for me, for the reason that
this time i am reading this impressive educational piece of writing here at my residence.
What i do not understood is in reality how
you’re no longer really much more neatly-appreciated than you might be now.
You’re so intelligent. You realize therefore considerably when it comes to
this topic, produced me in my view consider it from numerous numerous angles.
Its like women and men don’t seem to be fascinated until it is something to accomplish
with Girl gaga! Your personal stuffs excellent. Always take care of it
up!
If you wish for to get a good deal from this paragraph then you
have to apply such techniques to your won website.
Hi there! I could have sworn I’ve visited this website
before but after going through many of the articles I realized it’s new
to me. Anyhow, I’m certainly delighted I stumbled upon it and I’ll be bookmarking it and checking
back frequently!
Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is a very well written article.
I’ll be sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your useful information.
Thanks for the post. I will definitely comeback.
My brother suggested I would possibly like this blog.
He was totally right. This submit actually made my day.
You cann’t consider simply how a lot time
I had spent for this info! Thank you!
Great post. I used to be checking continuously this blog and I’m impressed!
Very useful information specially the final phase 🙂 I take care
of such information a lot. I was seeking this particular information for a long time.
Thank you and best of luck.
It is appropriate time to make a few plans for the longer
term and it’s time to be happy. I have learn this put
up and if I may I wish to counsel you few fascinating things or suggestions.
Maybe you can write subsequent articles regarding this article.
I wish to read more issues about it!
Thanks for one’s marvelous posting! I genuinely enjoyed reading it,
you’re a great author. I will make certain to bookmark your blog and will often come back later
on. I want to encourage that you continue your great writing, have a nice evening!
I just could not go away your website before suggesting that I
actually loved the standard information a person supply on your guests?
Is gonna be back regularly to check out new posts
Fantastic blog! Do you have any recommendations for aspiring writers?
I’m planning to start my own site soon but I’m a little lost on everything.
Would you suggest starting with a free platform like WordPress or go
for a paid option? There are so many choices out there that I’m completely confused ..
Any ideas? Appreciate it!
When I initially commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and
now each time a comment is added I get three emails with the same comment.
Is there any way you can remove people from that service?
Thanks!