1. The House of Saud Saudi Arabia’s Ruling Family

2. The Land Harsh and arid Cities develop around oases  5,000 years ago Dilmun people inhabited  Many Tribes

3. The Rise of the Sauds 1750, Sheik, Muhammad Bin Saud allies with radical Islamic cleric, Muhammad Ibn Abd al-Wahhab Religious & Political power fused…

4. Wahhabism Uses Koran PLUS Wahhab’s book Kitab al-Tawhib Literal interpretation Puritanical in Faith, against change in worship All non-Wahhabi’s are ENEMIES OF GOD Wahhabi Students at a Madrassa

5. The Saud’s Power Grows Abdul Aziz Al-Saud (Ibn Saud) starts to expand tribal lands from interior  1901-gets Riyadh 1914 – WWI breaks out, UK needs allies against Ottomans

6. Lawrence of Arabia UK sends T.E. Lawrence into Arabia to encourage sheiks to fight against Ottoman Turks. NATIONALISM BORN!!! Unity???

7. Saudi Arabia Created 1932 After the war, UK recognizes Ibn Saud as rightful ruler  Saud continues to gather land, Mecca in 1925 By 1932, all Arabian Peninsula united by Sauds  Wahhabism Grows 1932, unites tribes into SAUDI ARABIA

8. Saudi Arabia Comes of Age King Faisal leads coup against ½ brother in 1964 Begins modernization of the kingdom  Social & Economic Reform  Develop OIL!!!

9. On the International Stage 1967 – Backs royal family in Yemeni civil War Uses oil money to prop up royal families who lost war against Israel 1973 – Helps create OPEC, anti-USA

10. Chaos at the Helm… & Friendship with the USA? 1975 – Faisal killed by nephew  ½ brother Khalid rules King Fahd (1982) rethinks US position to help stabilize region from Iran-Iraq War and Gulf War

11. The Cost of Friendship… Saudi’s let US keep troops in the “Holy Land” after wars for stability Wahhabis & Bin Laden angry over infidel troops in land of Mohammed Fahd has stroke, ’95 King Abdullah today

12. Troubling Demographics ½ the 26.5 MM Saudis in two cities AND under 25!!! 1/3 unemployed In last 20 years, per Capita GDP dropped from $28.5K to $6.8K Why a Problem?

13. Social Rigidity Movie theaters, dance and night clubs banned Women can’t drive Religious police keep eye on people Public Executions

14. The Modern Wahhabi/Saudi Threat? Using Oil wealth, Saudi’s have been creating Wahhabi schools globally… Bin Laden & Taliban Wahhabis 15 of the19 9/11 hijackers Saudi Wahhabis

15. Saudi Arabia – Friend or Foe???