Saudi Arabia: Land of

Contrasts and
Contradictions

http://www.saudinf.com/main/a.htm
Created by: Janie Maldonado and Sherrie Greene
Austin Independent School District
May 2006

Saudi Arabia: Land of

Contrasts

Religious Apartheid in
Saudi
Arabia new country (1932, has
Saudi Arabia,
a relatively
a vast wealth of contrasts and contradictions. A
typical contrast is evident here. A modern jet
flies over a dirt landing strip next to an ancient 2
historical site. The highway sign indicates the

Saudi Arabia is the center of Islam and the Middle East. It is

the birthplace of Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam. Islam is
the official religion of Saudi Arabia. The country is located
approximately 30-18 North and 35-55 East. The relative
location of Saudi Arabia is flanked by the very important
waterways of the Red Sea on the western border and the
Persian Gulf on the eastern border. There are no permanent
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lakes or rivers in the entire country. Because there is no fresh

Mecca is the birthplace of Islam. Medina is where Muhammad

died and the focus of the hajj. Riyadh is the capital. Although
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situated between the two of the cradles of early civilization,

Saudi Arabia is 1/3 the size of

the United States.

Muhammad
(The Prophet)

Mecca, where Muhammad was born (570) was a trading

crossroads, where he started his public preaching in 613.
From Mecca with 200 followers, he journeyed to Medina
(Yathrib) from July September 622.
In 632, Muhammad leads the first pilgrimage (hajj)to
Mecca .
Muhammad dies in June, 632 in Medina after he declared
that
he had now fulfilled his mission on Earth.
Muhammad is buried in Medina.
With Muhammads death all of Arabia is united under the
banner of Islam

The Five Pillars of Islam

Faith
Alms

Prayer

Fasting

Hajj

In a desert cave in Saudi Arabia, Allah (Islamic 7

The Hajj

The hajj begins with a procession called the

tawaf, which takes the pilgrim around the
Kaaba seven times. Thanks to Saudi Arabias
oil wealth, one part of Alms-giving is used to
support or fund other Moslems to come to
Medina for the hajj.
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The Hajj

Circa early
1900s
Modern
pilgrimage
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Unification of Saudi
Arabia
Muhammad ibn al- Saud forms a politicoreligious pact with Muhammad ibn Abd
al-Wahhab in 1744.
Saud is the founder of first Saudi
dynasty in Arabia
( reigned from 1746 1765).
Saud and Wahhab formed a pact to
establish a country based on the
purification of Islamic practices from
current popular religion and an emphasis
on strict monotheism

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Wahhabis
(Muwahhidun)

18th century reformist/revivalist movement

Determines the reliance on Quran (holy book of
Islam) and hadith (interpretations of the Prophet)
Rejects medieval interpretations of Islam and justice
Emphasized education and knowledge as weapons in
dealing
with nonbelievers
Violent opposition to the cult of saints, idolatry, and
shrine and tomb visitations
Wahhabis are the crucial allies in the Saud conquest
of lands
that became Saudi Arabia
Wahhabis enforce the excommunication of anyone
who doesnt
follow their creed exactly

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Wahhabism

http://www.eretzyisroel.org/demo.jpg

The premise of this new,

narrow ideology was to
reject traditional scholars,
scholarship, and practices
under the guise of
"reviving the true tenets of
Islam" and protecting the
concept of monotheism."

www.eretzyisroel.org/~jkatz/wahhabism.html

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Modern Saudi Arabia

The fortunes of the Saud family rose and
fell several
times as Saudi rulers
contended with Egypt, the
Ottoman
Empire, and other Arabian families over
control of the peninsula.
1902- Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud captured
Riyadh from the rival Al-Rashid family
1926 after conquering other family
rivals Abdul
became the King of Hijaz
(Saudi Arabia)

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Modern Saudi Arabia

cont.
1927 Abdul took the title of King of Najd
Treaty of Jedda, May 20, 1927 United
Kingdom recognized the independence
realm of Addul Azizs Kingdom of Hijaz
and Najd)
The Saudi family has maintained its role
of political and
military leadership in
the modern-day kingdom of Saudi
Arabia, with the descendants of Ibn Abd
alWahhab continuing to serve as
religious advisers.

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Coat of Arms

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia

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Flag of Saudi Arabia

There is no god but Allah Muhammad is

His Prophet
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia

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Saudi Arabian Anthem

ARABIC LYRICS

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Sarei Lil Majd

Walalya
Majjedi Le Khaleg
Assama
Warfai El Khaffag
Akhdar
Yahmil Annoor al
mosattar
Raddedy Allah
Wakbar
Yamawteni Mawtenii
Gad
Isht Fakhr Al
Moslemeen
Aash Al Maleek
Lelalam Walwatan

Hasten to glory and

supremacy!
Glorify the Creator of
the heavens
And raise the green,
fluttering flag,
Carrying the emblem of
Light!
Repeat - God is
greatest!
O my country,
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My country, may you

The discovery of oil in March 1938

transformed the country economically, and
has given the kingdom great legitimacy
over the years

http://ww.hrc.utexas.edu/exhibitions/online/ddd/indeedes/images/475/339.jpg

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Oil from
Lucky
Seven oil
well

www.westforum.sc.edu/VirtualMuseum/images/LuckySevenDrop_jpg.jpg.

After six dry holes and after running out of almost all their money
and hope, the Socal people were ready to give up their concession
in eastern Arabia. But in late February 1958 4,500 feet down,
Dammam No 7 struck and within a month was producing over 19
5,00

"..February 14, 2005, marks the 60th

anniversary of the historic meeting between
Saudi Arabia's King Abdul Aziz and then U.S.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt aboard the
cruiser USS Quincy at Great Bitter Lake in
Egypt. These two visionary leaders forged an
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enduring relationship that has weathered

King Abudullah bin

Abdulaziz
Greeting
U.S.
Ambassado
r
Oberwetter
and wife in
Dhahran.

Visiting
conjoined
twins at
hospital

Note the
traditional
attire
covering
the
western
style suit.

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President Bush and King

www.whitehouse.gov/.../ 20020425-4-2-515h.html

President George W. Bush welcomes Crown Prince

Abdullah of Saudi Arabia to the Bush family ranch in
Crawford, Texas, Thursday, April 25, 2005. "The Crown
Prince is going to be in America for several more days,
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and officials from both our governments will be

Women of Saudi Arabia

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Men in Saudi Arabia

Foreign
citizens
are
imported
as
workers.

Voting
Day
Women are
allowed to
24in
vote only

Flower
Dance

These men are performing an

ancient ritual of the Flower Dance.
Notice only men are present. As
peaceful as this dance may seem,

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Women
participating
in the Hajj.

Men at prayer.
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Bedouins

www.whitehouse.gov/.../ 20020425-4-2-515h.html

The lifestyle of the Bedouins has

been in existence since ancient
times in Arabia and has changed

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Housing

A stark contrast is ever present in

housing life-styles. A serious problem in
Saudi Arabia is that often times money
earmarked for infrastructure, such as

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The name of Riyadh means "the

gardens". In the central desert of
Nedj, there was an oasis with
traditional houses made of earth. A
huge trend of modernization has led
to the destruction or dereliction of
the old earth made houses until
recently. A preservation policy has
begun to save the last witness of of
the past

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A modern Saudi Arabian suburban

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A modern
shopping mall

Shopping
A woman shopping in
traditional black clothing

Busy city

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Shopping cont.

Jeddah Shopping
Center Mall
From the market above, 104 illegal
immigrants were deported back to Pakistan.
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The Wahhabis enforce a secret police who

Four major cities of Saudi

Arabia.

http://www.saudi-us-relations.org/maps/images/saudi-mecca-madina-jeddah-riyadh-map-600.jpg

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Transportation

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Saudi Arabian Economy

Budget: Income .............. $32.3 Billion
Expenditure ... $34 Billion
Main Crops: Wheat, barley, tomatoes,
melons, dates, citrus; mutton, chickens,
eggs, milk .
Natural Resources: Petroleum, natural
gas, iron ore, gold, copper .
Major Industries: Crude oil production,
petroleum refining, basic
petrochemicals, cement, two small
steel-rolling mills, construction,
fertilizer, plastics

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Economy cont.
A map of the pipeline: the
lifeblood of Saudi Arabia.
The economy is almost totally
dependent upon foreign labor.
The number of expatriate
workers is large with the bulk
coming from Egypt, Pakistan,
India, Indonesia, and the
Philippines. The economy is
almost totally dependent
upon foreign labor. The
number of expatriate workers
is large with the bulk coming
from Egypt, Pakistan, India,
Indonesia, and the
Philippines.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/shows/saudi/images/map1.gif

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Tourism limitations

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Saudi Arabia is trying to

diversify its economy.

Saudi Arabia's economy is

vulnerable to fluctuating
commodity prices because of its
heavy reliance on oil exports.
But its grip on international oil
markets has weakened
considerably because of rival
production from the former
Soviet Union, Africa and Latin
America.

After the oil boon,

Bedouins were encouraged
to abandon the nomadic
lifestyle in exchange for
farming, or employment in
city life. Most Bedouins
have not been successful
in this effort.

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Contact with the rest of

world continues to make
Saudi Arabia a land of
contrasts:

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United States presence is shown in a remote

area.

Saudi Arabia has not escaped the ra

of graffiti.

At a popular meeting
place, replete with neon.
graffiti and electrical
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century with strong

traditional morals
from Islam and
Arabias humble
beginnings.
Wahhabism
continues to be a
strong force and the
moral backbone of

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Photograph & Powerpoint

Credits
Slide 1: http://web.umr.edu/~rogersda/military_service/A
7%20over%20Saudi
%20Arabia.jpg
http://www.freedomhouse.org/religion/country/Saudi%20Arabia/Mecca%20sign.j
Slide 2: Zioneocon.blogspot.com/map-middle-east.gif
Slide 3: http://www.saudi -us-relations.org/maps/images/saudi-arabia-map-factbook-600.jpg
Slide 4: About.com/library/blank/usa3.jpg
Slide 5: http://edf3.gallaudet.edu/diversity/moslems/pillars2.jpg
Slide 6: http://www.csmonitor.com/specials/hajjmap/hajj1.gif
Slide 7: http://www.csmonitor.com/specials/hajjmap/hajj1.gif
Slide 8: http://www.unexplainedstuff.com/images/geuu_02_img0461.jpg
http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/SPECIALS/2005/hajj/images/top.mecca.jpg
Slide 9: http://arabiancareers.com/saudi.html
Slide 10: http://arabiancareers.com/saudi.html

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Photograph & Powerpoint

Credits

Slide 16: http://david.national-anthems.net/sa'.htm

Slide 19: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia

Slide 20: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Abdullah_of_Saudi_Arabia.jpg
www.conjoinedtwins.med.sa/ gallery/polish/page...
Slide 21: news.bbc.co.uk/media/ images/38375000/jpg/_383...
Slide 22: http://watch.windsofchange.net/pics/saudi_shopping_s.jpg
http://www.ameinfo.com/images/news/0/13650-saudi-woman.jpg

jpg

http://www.artcrimes.com/istanbul/saudi_arabia_dsk_istanbul.
http://i-cias.com/e.o/ill/arabs03.jpg

Slide 23: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/

http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/pix/saudi_elections_cp_7102616.jpg
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.galenfrysinger.com/
Slide 25: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images
news.bbc.co.uk/.../newsid_4405100/4405164.stm

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Photograph & Powerpoint

Credits
Slide 27: http://www.exploresaudiarabia.com/factfile/images/soldier_cooking.gif
http://saudiembassy.net/Publications/MagWinter98/images/p16.jpg
http://www.mattmtravels.com/Saudi%20Arabia021.jpg
Slide 28: http://images.google.com/imgres?
imgurl=http://geoimages.berkeley.edu/GeoImage
Slide 29: http://images.google.com/imgres?
imgurl=http://geoimages.berkeley.edu/GeoImages
Slide 30: http://images.google.com/imgres?
imgurl=http://geoimages.berkeley.edu/GeoImages
http://www.galenfrysinger.com/Photos/saudi90.jpg
http://images.google.com/imgres?
imgurl=http://kerneltrap.org/jeremy/pictures/2003Slide 31: www.despardes.com/pakistan/ images/kababish-li...
www.demetrios-sa.com/ contact.php
Slide 33: www.mosnews.com/ files/1128/picture.jpg

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Photograph & Powerpoint

Credits

Slide 34: www.banterist.com/ archivefiles/images/1232ad.jpg

Slide 36: http://www.saudiembassy.net/

Slide 37: news.bbc.co.uk/media/ images/38375000/jpg/_383...

Slide 38: http://homepage.mac.com/cfj/.Pictures/mecca-cola.jpg
http://www.flagline.com/images/magnets/saudi-arabia.jpg
Slide 39:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/terrorism/art/p_saudip.jpg

http://www.artcrimes.com/istanbul/saudi_arabia_dsk_istanbul.jpg

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Project coordinated by
Janie Maldonado and
Sherrie Greene
Austin Independent
School District
May, 2006

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