Saudi Arabian History

Wahhabism
Militant, fundamentalist
Islamic reform movement.
Formed by Muhammad ibn
Saud and Muhammad ibn
Abd al-Wahhabs pact in
1744.
Agree on joining forces
for jihad.
Religous distinction for
Al Wahhab.
Leadership role for Al
Saud.
 Saudi States

1st State - Al Saud and Al Wahhab forces conduct raids; In 1818

Abd Allah is beheaded in Istanbul.
2nd State - Turki bin Abdullah bin Muhammad reclaims Riyadh;
Internal power struggles in Al Saud result in their defeat in 1891.
3rd State - Ibn Saud gains swaths of land through battle; Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia established in 1932.
 Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia
Defeat of Ottoman Empire
after WWI left power
vacuum that Ibn Saud
capitalized on.
Ikhwan Army conquered
various regions.
Treaty of Jeddah (1927)
Ambigious relationship
between British and Al
Saud created.
In 1932 the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia created.
 Ibn Saud King Saud King Faisal

King Khalid King Fahd King Abdullah

Heads of Al
Crown Saud (1932-
King Present)
Prince
Salman
Mohammad
 Islam, the Linking Factor
Wahhabism solidified and
legitimized Al Saud specifically
after 1932.

Saudi monarchy lives in great

wealth while its people are
quite poor.

Inconsistencies in religion
and excesses perpetuated
by regime.

Saudi Arabia is the hub of

Sunni Islam.
 20th Century to
Today

Oil
Discovered in 1936.
Political tool
Joined embargo in 1973 with OPEC members.
Security Threats
1979 Iranian Revolution & 1980s Iraq-Iran War.
Terrorism
A political tool for dissenters to critique the
regime for US support and the regime itself.