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! 😊
I was suggested this web site by my cousin. I am not sure whether this
post is written by him as no one else know such detailed about my
difficulty. You’re amazing! Thanks!
You actually make it seem really easy with
your presentation but I find this topic to be actually something which I think I would by no means understand.
It sort of feels too complicated and very large for me. I am looking ahead on your subsequent put up,
I’ll attempt to get the hold of it!
Great blog here! Additionally your site so much up very fast!
What host are you the use of? Can I get your affiliate link for your host?
I desire my site loaded up as fast as yours lol
I love reading through a post that will make people
think. Also, many thanks for allowing for me to comment!
Wow, marvelous weblog structure! How lengthy have
you been running a blog for? you made blogging glance easy.
The entire look of your website is magnificent, let alone the content!
Hi, i feel that i saw you visited my website thus i came to return the choose?.I am attempting to
in finding things to improve my site!I assume its good enough to
use a few of your ideas!!
Fabulous, what a blog it is! This blog presents useful
data to us, keep it up.
Hi my family member! I want to say that this post is awesome, great written and
come with almost all important infos. I’d like to peer
extra posts like this .
I have learn several good stuff here. Definitely price bookmarking for revisiting.
I surprise how so much attempt you put to make one of these wonderful informative site.
Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you writing this article and the rest of
the website is also very good.
Wow, this piece of writing is nice, my sister is analyzing
these things, therefore I am going to tell her.
Very great post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wished to mention that I
have truly enjoyed surfing around your weblog posts.
In any case I’ll be subscribing in your rss feed and I hope you
write once more very soon!
hello!,I like your writing very a lot! percentage we keep up
a correspondence more approximately your post on AOL?
I require an expert in this house to solve
my problem. May be that’s you! Having a look forward to peer you.
My brother recommended I might like this blog. He was entirely right.
This post actually made my day. You can not imagine simply how much time I had spent for this info!
Thanks!
This paragraph gives clear idea for the new viewers of blogging,
that truly how to do blogging and site-building.
Wow, fantastic blog layout! How long have you ever
been blogging for? you made running a blog glance easy.
The entire look of your site is magnificent, as neatly as
the content material!
This design is steller! You certainly know how to keep a reader
amused. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Wonderful job.
I really loved what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it.
Too cool!
Howdy! This post couldn’t be written any better!
Reading this post reminds me of my good old room mate!
He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this page to him.
Fairly certain he will have a good read. Many thanks for
sharing!
Awesome! Its really remarkable paragraph, I have got much clear idea regarding from this piece of writing.
May I simply say what a relief to find somebody that really knows what
they are discussing on the net. You actually understand how to bring a problem to light and make it important.
More and more people need to read this and understand this side of your story.
I was surprised you aren’t more popular given that you certainly possess the gift.
Hi there, every time i used to check website posts here early in the break of day, as i love to find out more and more.
Great blog here! Also your web site loads up fast!
What host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host?
I wish my website loaded up as quickly as yours lol
Keep this going please, great job!
Hi, i think that i saw you visited my site thus i came to “return the favor”.I’m attempting to find things to enhance
my website!I suppose its ok to use some of your ideas!!
I think this is among the most vital info for me. And i am glad reading your article.
But wanna remark on few general things, The site style is wonderful, the articles is really great
: D. Good job, cheers
I could not refrain from commenting. Well written!
Do you have any video of that? I’d want to find
out some additional information.
Wow! In the end I got a webpage from where I be capable of truly take helpful information concerning my study and
knowledge.
I’m really impressed with your writing skills and also with the layout on your weblog.
Is this a paid theme or did you modify it yourself?
Anyway keep up the excellent quality writing, it’s rare to see a nice blog like this one today.
Unquestionably believe that which you stated. Your favorite justification seemed to be on the net the easiest thing
to be aware of. I say to you, I definitely get annoyed while people consider worries that they just don’t know about.
You managed to hit the nail upon the top as well as defined out the whole
thing without having side effect , people could take a
signal. Will probably be back to get more.
Thanks
Hi there, I discovered your website by way of Google whilst searching for a related
matter, your website got here up, it seems great.
I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
Hello there, just become aware of your blog via Google, and found that it’s truly informative.
I’m going to watch out for brussels. I’ll appreciate
should you proceed this in future. Lots of folks will likely be benefited
out of your writing. Cheers!
Hi there mates, its impressive post on the topic
of teachingand completely defined, keep it up all the time.
I am actually glad to glance at this web site posts which contains tons
of helpful data, thanks for providing these information.
What’s Taking place i am new to this, I stumbled
upon this I’ve discovered It absolutely useful and it has helped me
out loads. I am hoping to give a contribution & aid different users like its aided me.
Good job.
It’s amazing to go to see this site and reading the views
of all colleagues concerning this piece of writing,
while I am also eager of getting know-how.
Very quickly this web site will be famous amid all blogging visitors,
due to it’s fastidious content
This article is actually a pleasant one it helps new internet people, who
are wishing in favor of blogging.
Good information. Lucky me I recently found your blog by accident (stumbleupon).
I’ve book marked it for later!
Hello, yes this post is in fact pleasant and I have learned lot of things from it concerning blogging.
thanks.
Hey there, I think your website might be having browser compatibility issues.
When I look at your website in Opera, it looks fine but when opening in Internet
Explorer, it has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up!
Other then that, fantastic blog!
Howdy I am so excited I found your web site, I really found you by accident, while
I was searching on Google for something else, Anyways I am here now and would just like to say thank you for a
marvelous post and a all round enjoyable blog (I also love the
theme/design), I don’t have time to read it all at
the moment but I have book-marked it and also included your RSS feeds, so when I have
time I will be back to read a great deal more, Please
do keep up the great work.
This is my first time pay a quick visit at here and i am really happy to read all at alone place.
You could definitely see your expertise in the article you write.
The arena hopes for even more passionate writers such as
you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. Always go after your heart.
Post writing is also a fun, if you be familiar with after that you can write otherwise
it is difficult to write.
Fine way of telling, and fastidious article to get information concerning my presentation focus, which i am going to deliver
in institution of higher education.
It’s a pity you don’t have a donate button! I’d definitely donate to this outstanding blog!
I guess for now i’ll settle for bookmarking and adding your RSS feed to my
Google account. I look forward to fresh updates and will talk about this blog with my Facebook group.
Chat soon!
Hi there to every single one, it’s actually a fastidious
for me to pay a quick visit this web page, it consists
of helpful Information.
What’s up mates, how is everything, and what you want to
say concerning this post, in my view its really amazing for me.
Hey, I think your site might be having browser compatibility
issues. When I look at your blog site in Chrome, it looks fine but when opening
in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you
a quick heads up! Other then that, very good blog!
Great article. I’m facing many of these issues as well..