Modern Saudi Arabia

Description

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, known for its petroleum reserves and leadership role in the Middle East, is explored in this latest addition to the Understanding Modern Nations series. Organized into thematic chapters, Modern Saudi Arabia covers both history and contemporary daily life. Chapter topics include: Geography; History; Government and Politics; Economy; Religion and Thought; Social Classes and Ethnicity; Gender, Marriage, and Sexuality; Education; Language; Etiquette; Literature and Drama; Art and Architecture; Music and Dance; Food; Leisure and Sports; and Media and Popular Culture. Each chapter contains an overview of the topic and alphabetized entries on examples of each theme. A detailed historical timelinespans from prehistoric times to the present. Special appendices are also included, offering profiles of a typical day in the life of representative members of Saudi society, a glossary, key facts and figures about Saudi Arabia, and a holiday chart. This volume will be useful for readers looking for specific topical information and for those who want to read entire chapters to gain a deeper perspective on aspects of modern Saudi Arabia. Cover Title Page Copyright Contents Series Foreword Introduction Chapter 1: Geography Overview Asir Border Demarcations and Disputes Climate Eastern Arabia: Al-Hasa Environmental Issues after the Gulf War Fresh Water Reserves and Water Conservancy Great Deserts Hijaz and Tihamah Jeddah Mecca Medina Najd: Central Arabia Northern Arabia The Persian Gulf Population The Red Sea Riyadh Chapter 2: History Overview Timeline The Abbasids Arab Revolt (1916–1918) Discovery of Oil Emirate of Diriyah: The First Saudi State (1744–1818) Emirate of Najd: The Second Saudi State (1824–1891) The Golden Age of Islam in Arabia Ibn Saud Ikhwan King Abdullah The Mamluks and the Ottomans in Arabia Muhammad, Prophet of Islam Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab Nabateans Najran Pre-Islamic Arabia Rashidun: The Righteous Caliphs The Rise of Islam Sharifs of Mecca Third Saudi State: Saudi Arabia in the 20th Century The Umayyads Chapter 3: Government and Politics Overview The Arab Spring Capital and Corporal Punishment Constitution and Legal Reform Corruption Gulf Cooperation Council Human Rights and Censorship Law Enforcement and Security Local Government and Municipal Elections Military Political Dissent and Opposition Political Reform and Modernization Saudi Monarchy and Branches of the Government Saudi–U.S. Relations Sharia Law and Judicial System Ulama Wahhabi Ideology Chapter 4: Economy Overview Agriculture Diversification and Development Plans Energy Financial Institutions and Saudi Riyal Land and Household Policy Migrant Workers and Unemployment Oil Industry and Aramco OPEC and OAPEC Petrochemical Industry Public vs. Private Sectors Saudization Science and Technology Taxation Tourism Trade and Exports Transportation Vision 2030 Chapter 5: Religion and Thought Overview Five Pillars or the Tenets of Islam Hajj Islamic Calendar Jihad Non-Muslims Quran Shia Community Shia Islam Sunni Islam and Jurisprudence Chapter 6: Social Classes and Ethnicity Overview Bedouins and Nomadism Ethnic Composition Health and Welfare House of Saud Major Tribes Settled Population: Hadar Sharif and Sayyid Sulubbah Urbanization Chapter 7: Gender, Marriage, and Sexuality Overview Divorce Domestic Violence Gender Segregation Guardianship Hijab and Dress Code Identity Cards Marriage Law and Tradition The Mutawwa: Saudi Religious Police Parents and Children Social Life, Kinship, and Friendships Traditional Wedding Women in Public Office Women’s Mobility and Driving Ban Chapter 8: Education Overview Education of Women Higher Education International Schools Islamic Education Key Universities Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University Secondary Education Chapter 9: Language Overview Arabic Alphabet and Script Arabic Calligraphy Arabic Dialects Dialect of Hijaz Dialect of Najdi Gulf Arabic and Minority Languages Chapter 10: Etiquette Overview Death Rites Dress Etiquette Honor Majlis Social Life Workweek and Holidays Chapter 11: Literature Overview Abdelrahman Munif Ghazi al-Gosaibi Poetry Prose Raja Alem Turki al-Hamad Women Writers Chapter 12: Art and Architecture Overview Abraj al-Bait Bedouin Jewelry Calligraphic Art Contemporary Art Great Mosque of Mecca Modernization of Saudi Architecture Sadu Weaving Traditional Architecture Traditional Garments Chapter 13: Music and Dance Overview Ardha Dance Bedouin Music Contemporary Saudi and Khaliji Music Janadiriyah Heritage and Cultural Festival Music of Hijaz and Asir Religious Music Sawt Music Traditional Instruments Wedding Music and Dance Chapter 14: Food Overview Arabic Coffee, Tea, and Other Traditional Beverages Islamic Dietary Laws Kabsah Traditional Foods and Regional Variations Chapter 15: Leisure and Sports Overview Camel Racing Falconry Golf Horse Racing Maqha: Traditional Coffeehouse Popular Consumerism Soccer Women in Sports Chapter 16: Media and Popular Culture Overview Cinema Freedom of Speech Government Censorship Internet and Social Media Printed Press Television Tradition vs. Globalization Appendix A: A Day in the Life A Day in the Life of a Young Professional Woman A Day in the Life of a Bedouin A Day in the Life of a Rural Widow A Day in the Life of a Young Urban Man Appendix B: Glossary of Key Terms Appendix C: Facts and Figures Appendix D: Holidays Selected Bibliography Index