Download The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia
{
• Middle East is commonly used to describe the regional area
which surrounds the Persian Gulf, and is generally regarded to
include Egypt, Syria, Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Saudi
Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar
• The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is located centrally within this
region and is bordered with Jordan and Iraq to the North, Abu
Dhabi and Dubai (known more commonly as the United Arab
Emirates), Bahrain and Qatar to the East, and Oman and Yemen
to the South. To the West it borders with the Red Sea.
• Religions: Majority follow Islam, with some minority areas that
are Christian and in the case of Israel; Jewish.
• The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is solely Islamic.
The
Middle
East
King
Salman
King Abdul Aziz
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• A “young” country, founded in 1932
• Arabian recorded history dates back
to 600s AD and beyond
• In early history it was a crossroads for
trading caravans
• Goods such as almonds, spices, dates,
frankincense, and myrrh were moved
along trade routes throughout the
region in Saudi Arabia’s early history
• Today Saudi Arabia is an absolute
monarchy
• The first monarch was Abdul Aziz Al
Saud, who took power after making
an alliance with the Wahhabi religious
movement (a Salafist branch of Sunni
Islam. He ruled from 1932 – 1953
• In January 2015 the seventh king
Aziz’s line, Crown Prince Salman
became Saudi Arabia’s newest king.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Government
• Monarchy: king is head of government
• Koran (Islam’s holy text) is the
constitution
• Laws and regulations are created by royal
decree or by government ministers whose
decisions are approved by the monarch
• Monarch appoints government ministers,
governors of provinces, ambassadors to
foreign countries, and military leaders
• Legal and judicial (courts) system is based
on Islamic law, known as Shari’ah
• King is final court of appeal in issues of
law
• Many government officials are from the
royal family, which numbers about 20,000
people.
• Monarch is commander in chief of armed
• “There is no god but God, Muhammad is the
messenger of God.”
forces
• Green color represents Islam
• Saudi Arabia has 13 provinces
• Sword stands for the House of Saud, or for the military strength of the nation
Beginnings of Islam

Muhammad: prophet for
Islamic/Muslim faith;
believed to given messages by
god
Beginnings of Islam


Oasis: place in desert with
natural source of water; often
became trading posts and
later cities (plural: oases)
Muslim: “a person who
submits”; a person who
follows Muhammad’s
teachings



Mecca: city founded on an
oasis; became trading post;
holiest site in Islam
570, Muhammad was born in
Mecca
Muhammad worked in a
caravan and travelled the
region
Beginnings of Islam


Kaaba: Ancient shrine in
Mecca where people
worshiped


At 40 years old he said an
angel spoke to him in a cave
Angel told him to obey one
true God
He preached that all people
were brothers and sisters in
God’s community
Beginnings of Islam





Muezzin: man who calls
faithful to prayer
Allah: Arabic word for God
Mosque: Muslim house of
worship
Minaret: tower/spire from
which Muezzin calls faithful
to prayer
Pilgrimage: religious journey


1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Muhammad’s message came to be
known as Islam and spread
through the region
Basic teachings based on 5 ideas
(5 Pillars):
Declaring faith
Prayer
Almsgiving (helping poor)
Fasting
Pilgrimage (Hajj)
Beginnings of Islam


Quran: Islamic holy book;
written in Arabic

Quran follows many
traditions from Judaism and
Christianity but adds to it
Hajj: 5th Pillar, a pilgrimage to
the Kaaba, in Mecca is
required only for those who
can travel
Beginnings of Islam
Schism in Islamic world:
Muslims split into two
groups: Shiite/Shia and
Sunnis
 Sunnis represent 85% of
Muslims and believe any
religious man can lead
them
 Shiites/Shia make up 15%
of group and believe
leaders must be
descendants of Muhammad

Beginnings of Islam
Islam represents part of a
monotheistic “family” of religions:
Judaism
Christianity
Islam

Gender Roles and Statuses
• Men and women are strictly segregated
• Men and women would be allowed to marry are not to interact in public settings
• Women may work outside the home but may not have contact with unrelated
men
• Places they may work: girls' schools and the women's sections of universities,
social work and development programs for women, banks that cater to female
clients, medicine and nursing for women, television and radio programming,
and computer and library work. Sections of markets are set aside for women
sellers.
• Only about 7% of workforce in Saudi Arabia is female
Gender Roles and Statuses
• There are no public places; e.g. restaurants, theatres, or coffee shops where it is
legally permitted for men and women to interact or socialize
• Example: Starbucks has separate entry and exits for male and female customers.
They are not permitted to sit together or speak to one another at any time.
• Example: Supermarkets will allow male and female customers to shop in the
same store; however, checkouts are segregated in the same manner.
• Women are not allowed to drive; cannot travel abroad without the permission or
presence of a male guardian
• Women must wear a veil while in public.
• Women can own property in their own names and invest their own money in
business deals
Marriage & Family
• Traditionally, marriage was between paternal first cousins or other members of
father’s family
• Traditionally, bride and groom would not to meet before the wedding night
• Traditionally, marriages had to be arranged by fathers, mothers, and other
relatives
• These practices are changing slowly, though parents often are involved
• Men may have four wives as long as they treat them equally, though is not
common
• Divorce is easy for men and difficult for women.
• Divorce rates are high, and remarriage is common, especially for men.