Oil and InfluenceOil and InfluenceA Modern History of Saudi A Modern History of Saudi

ArabiaArabia

PreviewPreview What do you know about Saudi Arabia?What do you know about Saudi Arabia?

Directions: Determine if the following Directions: Determine if the following statements are True or False:statements are True or False:

Saudi Arabia is home to the holy sites Saudi Arabia is home to the holy sites Mecca AND Medina—both important to the Mecca AND Medina—both important to the Islamic faith.Islamic faith.

Saudi Arabia is the 3Saudi Arabia is the 3rdrd largest exporter of largest exporter of oil in the world.oil in the world.

Drug-trafficking in Saudi Arabia is illegal Drug-trafficking in Saudi Arabia is illegal and carries the death penalty along with it.and carries the death penalty along with it.

Basic InformationBasic Information Population:Population:

28.8 million28.8 million 90% Arab, 10% Afro-90% Arab, 10% Afro-

AsianAsian

Government:Government: Monarchy (Imam):Monarchy (Imam):

ABDALLAH bin Abd ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud al-Aziz Al Saud

Islamic LawIslamic Law

Religion:Religion: IslamIslam

MapMap

Brief HistoryBrief History Ancient HistoryAncient History

Nomadic TribesNomadic Tribes Semitic PeoplesSemitic Peoples Roman EmpireRoman Empire

Modern HistoryModern History Home and Founding Home and Founding

Place of Islam Place of Islam (610 A.D.)(610 A.D.)

Islamic Empire Islamic Empire (Caliphate)(Caliphate)

TodayToday Kingdom of Saudi Kingdom of Saudi

Arabia (1931 A.D.)Arabia (1931 A.D.)

Saudi Involvement in the Saudi Involvement in the World WarsWorld Wars World War IWorld War I

Ottoman EmpireOttoman Empire IndependenceIndependence Kingdom establishedKingdom established

World War IIWorld War II Good terms with AxisGood terms with Axis Strict neutralityStrict neutrality Eventual siding with AlliesEventual siding with Allies Oil…Oil…

Saudi Arabia Since 1945Saudi Arabia Since 1945 Post-World War II:Post-World War II:

Dynasty of KingsDynasty of Kings Abdul AzizAbdul Aziz SaudSaud FaisalFaisal KhalidKhalid FahdFahd

Arab NationalismArab Nationalism Anti-IsraelAnti-Israel

Saudi Arabia Since 1945Saudi Arabia Since 1945 Late 20Late 20thth Century Century

Pressured by Arab nationsPressured by Arab nations U.S. RelationshipU.S. Relationship The Persian Gulf WarThe Persian Gulf War OPECOPEC

Role In 9/11Role In 9/11 15 of 19 Saudi15 of 19 Saudi Strains RelationshipsStrains Relationships

Important Historical Important Historical FiguresFigures The Prophet MuhammadThe Prophet Muhammad

Founder of IslamFounder of Islam

Osama bin LadenOsama bin Laden Orchestrator of Orchestrator of

September, 11 September, 11 attacksattacks

Connections to ConceptsConnections to Concepts GlobalizationGlobalization

Member of OPECMember of OPEC Dependence on OilDependence on Oil One of the richest One of the richest

nations in the world nations in the world despite almost no despite almost no natural resourcesnatural resources

Sphere of InfluenceSphere of Influence Role of the WestRole of the West West v. IslamWest v. Islam

Role in the WorldRole in the World #1 Exporter of Oil#1 Exporter of Oil

Partnership and Partnership and leverage over leverage over industrial nationsindustrial nations

Fence-SitterFence-Sitter Supports Arab Supports Arab

developmentdevelopment Supports Western Supports Western

economicseconomics

Holiest Sites of IslamHoliest Sites of Islam

ConclusionConclusion Islamic DevelopmentIslamic Development

Modern MonarchyModern Monarchy

The Importance of OilThe Importance of Oil

The Decision: Islam or West…???The Decision: Islam or West…???