The History of Saudi Arabia

“If you read or own just one book on Saudi Arabia, make sure it is this one.”

–Middle East Quarterly
“An outstanding book: a study of the Saudi state rich in historical documentation. Comprehensive and measured.”

–Fred Halliday
“It will become required reading for all those interested in the country’s shaping and development over the past two centuries.”

-Tim Niblock,Director, Center for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, University of Durham
“Combines a wealth of fascinating detail with rigorous and penetrating analysis.”

–Bernard Lewis

A history of the Saudi Arabian state from its emergence in 1745 to the early 1990s. The main issues it considers are the evolution of the social and political structures of Saudi society, the Wahhabi movement for a reform of Islam, Saudi Arabia’s place in the modern world, the impact of oil on its society, the emergence of new social groups, and the contradictions within Saudi society and how they are resolved. Vassiliev (Institute for African Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences) was ‘s Middle East correspondent for 10 years. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Alexei Vassiliev was the Middle East correspondent for Pravda for ten years. He is Director of the Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

The History of Saudi Arabia

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