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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.