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Riyadh - History |
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The Middle East, of which Saudi Arabia is an integral part, is the
birthplace of civilization. It is in this area that man first settled in
farming communities, developed agriculture, domesticated livestock,
perfected trade and invented writing, setting the stage for the rise of
civilizations such as Babylon, Nineveh, Phoenicia and Egypt. On its
perimeter, and at a later stage, other great civilizations, such as Greece
and Rome, would flourish. Benefiting from the social and economic systems
pioneered by the people of the region. The inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula developed a civilization of
their own that defied outside conquest. They interacted economically and
culturally. Trading with communities in the Fertile Crescent, which
stretches from what is present-day Iraq through Syria to Turkey, as well
as with Egypt, the Roman Empire and other peoples beyond their immediate
area. Cities along the western and northern edge of the Arabian Peninsula
were located on a major overland trade route. Evidence of extensive
commercial trade dating from 3,000 B.C. has been discovered along this
route. Early trade commodities included agricultural products, spices,
textiles, gold and frankincense.
The history of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia dates
back to about 1747 when the ruler of the central Arabian Peninsula,
Muhammad Bin Saud, formed an alliance with the Mulim scholar and reformer
Muhammad Bin Abdul Wahhab, a partnership that led to the founding of the
modern state.
The Al-Saud family ruled much of the Arabian Peninsula throughout
the 19th century. In 1902, Abdul Aziz Bin Abdul Rahman Al-Saud
succeeded in recapturing Riyadh from the Al-Rashid and in the following
thirty years united the numerous and disparate tribes into one nation. The foundation of the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia took place on
September 23, 1932, a day that is commemorated as National Day. In the early 18th Century, Sheikh Muhammad Bin Abdul Wahab, the son
of a religious judge, called on Muslims to return to the original form of
Islam. Initially persecuted, he later found protection in the town of
Diriyah, which was ruled by Muhammad Bin Saud, a member of the Al-Saud
family. The partner ship eventually led to the foundation of Saudi Arabia.
By the early 1800's, the Al-Saud family ruled much of the Arabian
Peninsula. This alarmed the Ottoman Empire, which sent armies to contain
the influences of the Al-Saud family. The Ottoman's captured Diriyah,
ending the first phase of the Al-Saud reign in 1818. By 1824, the Al-Saud family regained political control of central
Arabia and once again ruled the region from their new capital of Riyadh. A
period of unrest and tribal warfare began in 1865 and resulted in the Al-Rashid
family, with Ottoman support, extending its power over the Saudi state.
The Al-Saud's, under the leadership of Abdul Rahman, were forced into
exile in 1891. They lived on the empty borders until settling in Kuwait.
On September 23, 1932, the country was named the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia, as an Islamic state, with Arabic designated as the official
language, and the Holy Qur'an as its constitution. |
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The lifestyle of the early Arabs was deeply influenced by the
desert, which fostered a strong sense of
independence and adaptability to a challenging environment. Some Arabs
turned to agriculture, forming settlements around a well or in an oasis.
While others became nomads, travelling with their flocks across the desert
in search of water and grazing land. Caravan cities formed along the
western Red Sea coastal region of the peninsula. Although the desert
environment was difficult to endure, it provided isolation and protection
for the Arabs throughout the centuries. 
Twenty-one year old Abdul Aziz Bin Adbul Rahman Al-Saud left Kuwait
in 1901, determined to recapture all of the territory once held by his
forefathers. In 1902, in a daring battle, he recaptured
Riyadh. This event marks the beginning of the formation of the modern
state of Saudi Arabia. After establishing Riyadh as his headquarters,
Abdul Aziz proceeded over the following decades to unite the different
regions into one nation. 
