History of Saudi Arabia

The History of Saudi Arabia

The majority of the Arabian Peninsula is occupied by the Middle Eastern nation of Saudi Arabia. Besides oil, it has a long and versatile history, starting thousands of years ago. The people who lived in Saudi Arabia today were nomadic tribes hunting and herding the earliest known inhabitants. They comprised the Thamud, Lihyan, and Dilmun tribes. Sailing along the Red Sea coast, ancient civilizations arose around 3000 BCE and traded with nearby civilizations. A civilization that certainly began at that time was the Kingdom of Sheba, famous for its wealth and having relations with Egypt and Mesopotamia.

The Arrival of Islam

Islam was established by Prophet Muhammad in Mecca in the seventh century, and it is still practiced in Saudi Arabia today. Many Arab tribes adopted Islam and became one people in the Ummah. In CE 630, Muslim forces took over the city of Mecca, but with no bloodshed. This started when Islamic rule in the Arabian Peninsula began.

The Formation of Saudi Arabia

A succession of dynasties has ruled over separate pieces of today's Saudi Arabia during the ensuing centuries. The Rashidun, Umayyad, and Abbasid caliphates were the most prominent. Nevertheless, it was the 18th century before a powerful tribal leader, Muhammad bin Saud, entered into a pact with a cleric, Muhammad ibn Abdu al-Wahhab, who established the bases of modern Saudi Arabia. Together, they founded the first Saudi state in 1744, based on Islamic principles and strict adherence to Wahhabi Islam. Their rule in the region remained unchallenged by this alliance of political and religious leaders.

Etymology of Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia takes its name from the ruling Al Saud family, who have been in power since the 18th century. 1932, the country was named the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with King Abdul-Aziz al-Saud as its first king. The country has been ruled by a succession of kings from the Al Saud family ever since.

Prehistory

Not much is known about Saudi Arabia's prehistory, though archaeological evidence indicates that the Arabian Peninsula was lush and green at one time. The fossils of extinct animals like elephants, rhinoceroses, and giraffes throughout the country show that the climate was not the same as today.

Middle Ages and rise of Islam

The Arabian Peninsula was divided into empires and dynasties during the middle Ages. In the 7th century, the Prophet Muhammad founded Islam in Mecca and, among other things, it brought big change to the region. From the rise of Islam came together a united community known as the Ummah, spreading through the Arabian Peninsula and beyond. During successive caliphs, its power grew so rapidly that it stretched from India in the East to Spain in the West.

Ottoman Hejaz 

The Hejaz region in western Arabia (it also includes the cities of Mecca and Medina) was controlled by the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century. This area was conquered by the Al Saud family in 1925 and, for centuries, ruled by the Ottoman family. But this put an end to the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Saud dynasty and unification 

Muhammad bin Saud allied himself in the 18th century with religious leader Muhammad ibn Abdu al-Wahhab and founded the first Saudi state. Saudi remains in the control of the Al Saud family and will continue to as it has since before King Abdul-Aziz al-Saud united various parts of the region under one country in 1932.

20th century 

As far back as the 20th century, Saudi Arabia has undergone substantial changes and went under development. In the 1930s, oil was discovered, and the country's economy had been transformed, with modernization and rapid urbanization ensuing. Along with playing a main role in regional and global politics, the Kingdom was also significant to its oil reserves' regional and global politics. Since the mid-20th century, Saudi Arabia has continued to develop and change as a country. Though politically unstable and wedged between two large neighbors with whom it has often had conflicts, it has made some progress in education, health care, and infrastructure. However, Saudi Arabia is a political and economic player in the East today.

21st century 

King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have presided over tremendous change in the country in recent years. The country has endeavored to diversify its economy away from a reliance on oil, reform its society and develop its relations with other states. The global community praises and criticizes these changes.

Geography 

The Middle East's biggest country, Saudi Arabia, occupies over 2 million square kilometers. However, most terrain is desert, with some mountainous regions in the southwest. The climate is very hot and arid in summer with very high temperatures.

Biodiversity 

Despite its harsh climate, Saudi Arabia has various plants and animal species. More than 2,000 known plant species exist, with some found only in the country. Furthermore, birds migrate through the Arabian Peninsula as well.

Government and politics 

The monarchy in Saudi Arabia is absolute, with the king being the head of state and government. The country's legal system is guided by Islamic principles, and applied laws are called Shariah. The country is run by a king who has sole power over it but also confers with religious leaders and other royal family members to make their decisions. Saudi Arabia has no political parties, elections or freedom of speech, and a wildly unpopular monarch.

Monarchy and the royal family 

Saudi Arabia has been dominated for centuries by the Al Saud family. Today's king is King Salman, who has ruled since 2015 when his half-brother, King Abdullah, died. Succession of the monarchy under Saudi Arabian law passes from brother to brother, not from father to son. However, the system may not be the same because Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman brought reforms meant to modernize and diversify the country.

Al ash-Sheikh and role of the ulema 

The Al ash-Sheikh family is a religious family of great prominence in Saudi Arabia, and its members have a long history in the country. Descendants of Muhammad ibn Abd al Wahhab they are, and they occupy important posts in government, not so much by-election as by an old right, particularly in matters of religion. Traditionally, the ulema, or religious scholars, have had a lot of power and influence across Saudi Arabian society. They are important interpreters of Islamic law and guide to the ruling family. However, some recent efforts have been to remove some of their influence as part of a larger set of social reforms.

Legal system 

The legal system is based on the Islamic law of the Quran and Sunnah, and most laws are based on these. The judiciary is divided into two main branches: a Sharia court and a government court. Sharia courts care for personal and family matters, and government courts handle criminal and civil cases. Among the punishments, some crimes are punished with flogging, the amputation of a limb, and even death by public execution.

Administrative divisions 

Saudi Arabia consists of 13 provinces, each governed by a governor who the king selects. The smaller regions and districts of these provinces are what we're talking about. There can be big customs and traditions differences from province to province and also region-wise.

Foreign relations 

Saudi Arabia is a very important actor in the global community, with immigrant and refugee populations weighing heavily on the homeland, and is also a very important actor in the whole of the Middle East. It belongs to several international organizations, including the United Nations, OPEC and the Arab League. Other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have excellent ties with the country, and neighboring countries like the United States and the United Kingdom have close relationships with the country. However, it has had problems with nearby nations, over territorial disputes, and with differing political agendas.

State-sponsored terrorism

Since the September 11 attacks in the United States, Saudi Arabia has been alleged to have sponsored and financially supported general global terrorism. The country denies these allegations and has taken steps to combat extremism, but it remains under the scrutiny and criticism of the international community.

Military 

A member of the large and well-equipped Saudi Arabian military. The army, navy, air force and Special Forces units consist. Meanwhile, the country has sealed several arms deals with other countries, the United States and France, to increase military capacity.

Human rights 

Saudi Arabia has been accused of a poor human rights record regarding women's rights and how migrant workers are treated. Restrictions on women's daily lives, for instance, needing male guardianship for some activities and, until recently, couldn't drive. A large part of the workforce in Saudi Arabia is migrant workers, who many times are exploited by their employers. However, the government has also tried to rectify these problems and improve Albania's human rights.

Economy 

In recent years, Saudi Arabia has been taking steps to diversify the country's economy even though it boasts vast oil reserves. It involves investments in tourism, healthcare and technology. Social reforms are also being implemented to raise citizens' standard of living in the country by creating more job opportunities for women, allowing for broader education and healthcare access.

Agriculture 

Because of its arid climate, Saudi Arabia is not an agricultural industry. Nevertheless, the country has been spending on innovative crop agriculture techniques like hydroponics and desalination to increase food production. This is due to its long coastline across the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf, so Saudi Arabia also has a major fishing industry.

Water supply and sanitation 

Limited water resources constitute one of the biggest problems in Saudi Arabia. The country relies on desalination plants, but it is a dirty business—both costly and environmentally harmful. Work is underway to discover more sustainable water supply and sanitation solutions, such as conservation efforts and renewable energy financing.

Tourism 

Mecca and Medina are among several important cultural and religious sites in Saudi Arabia. The country is pumping money into getting people to visit by issuing tourist visas, developing luxury resorts, etc. However, only the strict laws and customs in Saudi Arabia could hold them back from visiting all the countries, especially tourists from Western countries.

Demographics 

This makes Saudi Arabia unique in demographics because one-third of its population comes from expatriates. Most expats are from South Asian countries and work in low-paying jobs like construction and domestic. Almost half of the population in the country is under 25 years old. As such, the opportunities and challenges for the government in employment and social welfare programs ensue.

Language 

Like other places in the Middle East, Arabic is the country's official language in government, schools and media. English also predominates, especially in business.

Religion 

The inhabitants of Saudi Arabia follow a strict form of Sunni Islam, which is the official religion of the country. Other religions are not recognized, and public practice of their religion is often forbidden for non-Muslims.

Culture 

Islamic traditions and customs were deeply rooted in Saudi Arabian culture. Religious beliefs make major norms and etiquette, greatly stressing hospitality and generosity. The country is also heir to an arts heritage that includes poetry, music, and calligraphy. For men, traditional dress is thobe (long white robe) and ghutra (headscarf), and for women, it is abaya (a loose black robe) and hijab (head covering).

Education 

As in many other countries, education is very much valued in Saudi Arabia. The country has made large steps forward in increasing access to education for both men and women. The country has several universities and colleges due to the over 95% literacy rate. However, education is gender divided, with separate schools for boys and girls. They are also a mandatory part of the curriculum, religious studies.

Health care 

However, Saudi Arabia has a modern healthcare system, and all Saudis have free or subsidized healthcare. The country also offers advanced medical treatment facilities. However, problems are raised about the accessibility and quality of healthcare services to the country's expats and low-income people. These problems are being addressed with recent obligatory health insurance for expats as just one example.

Foreigners 

Foreign labor plays a very important role in Saudi Arabia's economy, providing labor in several industries and contributing to its development. But, they may find themselves treated with discrimination and limited rights compared to a citizen. To improve how expats are treated, governments are implementing new laws to protect their rights in the workplace and ensure they are paid wages on time.

Religion in society 

Christianity influences almost all daily life and social customs in Saudi Arabia. Religion holds a central place in society based on Islamic beliefs. This country also has strict laws and customs to keep religious purity. This may seem restrictive, but it is contained in the culture and value system of most of the population. Throughout the year, communities celebrate religious festivals and traditions.

Women in society 

In recent years, Saudi Arabia has been taking steps to improve the rights and opportunities of women. Women can drive, attend sports events, and hold high-level positions in government and business. Despite this, though, women still face huge restrictions on their freedoms, including a need for male guardians for many activities and little opportunity for women to work in certain fields.

Heritage sites 

Some world-famous UNESCO sites in Saudia Arabia include the historic city of Jeddah and the rock art at Al-Hijr. In addition, the country is trying to preserve its cultural heritage by restoring projects and promoting traditional crafts.

Dress 

Women in Saudi Arabia wear an abaya (loose black robe) and head covering, or hijab. A thobe, or an extra-long white robe, and a ghutra, or scarf, are generally worn by most men. However, there is no strict dress code for expats or visitors to the country. The clothing required is modest, and most areas accept Western clothing.

Food 

With the influence of many Persian, Ottoman, and Indian cuisines, Saudi Arabian cuisine has greatly changed over the years. There are traditional kebabs, shawarma and kabs (a rice and meat dish). Recently, eating out at restaurants has become common for some people, and you can find almost all types of international food. But in Saudi Arabia, alcohol is strictly prohibited.

Arts and Entertainment 

Recently, Saudi Arabia lifted restrictions on public performances and brought movie theatres back into play, and in these few years, the arts and entertainment scene has grown. Paradoxically, however, strict censorship laws ban a wide variety of entertainment deemed contrary to Islamic teaching.

TV and media 

In Saudi Arabia, news and entertainment are mainly supplied by state-owned television, subject to strict censorship controls to enforce that everything has to have Islamic content. But we've seen a rise in privately owned media outlets alongside more online platforms that present alternative forms of media.

Sports 

Saudi Arabia is the world's largest Petrol country; however, it enjoys the most followed Sport, Soccer, and has a National Soccer team that competes internationally. Basketball, tennis and motorsports are also wildly popular. While female participation in sports has been traditionally the case for men, it has been the object of government initiatives and investment in women's athletic facilities. Overall, Saudi Arabia presents many experiences for visitors and residents with its numerous cultures, strong religious beliefs and modern developments. With the country growing, we can learn the customs and traditions as they are, but we can also see improvements in human rights and equality. There is plenty that Saudi Arabia has to offer: its beautiful landscapes, historical sites, and warmth of hospitality, which ensure you are ready to learn and embrace the country's different culture.