Modern Saudi Arabia

Valerie Anishchenkova is associate professor at the School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures at the University of Maryland.

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 Woman323
A Day in the Life of a Bedouin325
A Day in the Life of a Rural Widow326
A Day in the Life of a Young Urban Man328
Appendix B: Glossary of Key Terms
Appendix C: Facts and Figures
Appendix D: Holidays
Selected Bibliography
Index