Saudi Arabia

Historical Background

The South (al-Janoub)
The Western Province (al-Hijaz)
The Central Area (al-Najd)
The North (al-Shamal)
The Eastern Province (al-Sharq)
Unification of Saudi Arabia
The Impact of Islam

The South (al-Janoub)

The major cities of the South today include Najran and Abha. This has long been an area of settlers and nomads. The settlers’ lifestyle was based on agriculture in this unique region of Saudi Arabia which has the Asir mountain range, permanent springs, and green meadows. Nomads depended on their camels, sheep, and other livestock for their living and wandered about in search of grass and water.

From ancient times, southern Arabia formed part of the overland route linking the trade of luxury goods (spices, aromatics, silk) from India, Yemen, China and East Africa with the Mediterranean. Najran was a natural stopover along this famed frankincense trail. The trade route through Najran, and up western Arabia to the Mediterranean, is thought to have been in operation by the eighth century BC. Another route, from Najran to Wadi Dawasir and across the southern edge of the Nejd, was in place by the fourth century and targeted trade with Eastern Arabia and Iraq.

One of the most prosperous times of trade along this overland commercial route was from 30 BC to around AD 200, when the Roman Empire consumed large quantities of frankincense. However, the decline of the Roman Empire dealt an economic blow to established communities along the trade route, forcing inhabitants to be more self-sufficient than ever.

Traditional living in this area includes the use of clay for pots, mud for cleaning (later replaced by soap), and the oil and leaves of plants for perfume. Herbs and aromatics grow in abundance, the most common being basil, barda Qoosh (marjoram), Ba’tharan, roses, and Kadi. Herbs found and burnt for incense include Al-Mistikah (Arabian Gum), Al-Mahlab (Prunus Mahaleb), and musk. Herbs and grains used for medicine include myrrh, asafetida, aniseed, black caraway (black seed), fenugreek, coffee, and spices.

The Western Province (al-Hijaz)

The Hijaz, or Western Province area, lies on the shores of the Red Sea. Its principal cities are Jeddah and Yanbu. Both these cities began as tiny fishing settlements (Jeddah about 2500 years ago). They both lie along the historic frankincense route and have thus welcomed travelers for thousands of years. More than any other part of the Kingdom, the Hijaz has been exposed to influences from outside the Peninsula. Pilgrims either arrived by ship on their journey to Makkah and Medina or as part of caravans from Baghdad, Cairo and Damascus. When the Suez Canal opened in 1869, Jeddah, for the 19th century and beyond, became a major trading port between the Mediterranean and the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Yanbu is also a major port, in fact the largest, on the Red Sea coast. Because of location, residents of the Hijaz have enjoyed influence and trade with other countries and cultures, resulting, especially in Jeddah, in a more open, multicultural society.

The Central Area (al-Najd)

Most of Central Arabia is a limestone plateau. It is bounded by the deserts of the Nafud to the North and the Rub Al Khali to the south. To the east are mountains which run the length of western Arabia, separating the Najd from the Red Sea. To the west, long sand ridges of the Dahna create a barrier to the Arabian Gulf coast. Riyadh, the modern capital of Arabia, is situated in the east part of Najd.

From the third millenium B.C., tribal societies and nomads in this area have adapted to some of the harshest living conditions on earth and have been amazingly self-sufficient. However, drought and disease have been common themes. Farming depended on irrigation from ground water sources and wells dug down to the water table. The date palm, with its high salt tolerance, adapted well to Najdi soil and has long provided a staple source of food for man and beast, fuel, and building material. In times of sufficient moisture and plenty, other common crops included wheat, barley, millet, and alfalfa.

Positioned between al-Hassa and Mecca, settlements of the Najd received travellers journeying along the path of the ancient overland trade route. Later in history, influence from the outside world came from Muslim conquests of North Africa, Spain, and Italy. With this influence came the introduction of new fruits and vegetables such as oranges, apricots, peaches, aubergines, and watermelons, providing increased variation in diet.
When the British explorer, Harry St. John Philby visited the Najd in the early 20th century, he noted the widespread cultivation of date and tamarisk trees, onions, beans, okra, cotton bushes, grapes, figs, apricots, peaches, pomegranates, a small apple, melons, lemons, and garlic. In addition, herbs and spices grown included fenugreek, peppergrass, cumin, coriander, and safflower. Naturally, these crops were grown only in the more fertile area of oases and not in the more arid desert areas forming most of the Najd.

The North (al-Shamal)

Saudi Arabia borders Iraq, Kuwait, and Jordan in the north. Al-Jawf, Hail, Tabuk, Tayma and Dedan are some of the better-known cities of North Arabia. Tayma and Dedan, both in the north-west, were well established by the sixth century BC. A succession of rulers controlled this northern end of the caravan trade route. The Nabataeans, who built their capital at Petra and also had outposts at Madain Al Saleh, are the most celebrated. The Nabataeans enjoyed a monopoly of North Arabia from the third century BC – AD 106.

Islam was established in the seventh century AD. For Muslim pilgrims traveling from Damascus to Mecca, Tabuk was a natural stopping point. In more modern times, the Ottoman Empire dominated the area from the 17th through the early 20th century. Visitors today would describe much of the North, in general, as bleak and sparse. However, Hail is now a center of vast agricultural programs and most of the country’s wheat crop is grown here.

The Eastern Province (al-Sharq)

Most of the Eastern Province is a low-lying limestone plateau. It is hot and dry inland and hot and humid along the coast. There is very little natural vegetation in the sandy desert area. However, in the center of the Eastern Province, the region of al-Hasa boasts one of the largest oases and date farming communities in the world, while Qatif is the biggest oasis on the shores of the Gulf.

Settlements in these areas date back 5000 years and more. Better known civilizations of the Eastern Province include Dilmun (around 750-600 BC) and the lost city-state of Gerrha (c. 700 BC and early centuries AD). Although it is not known exactly where these cities were located, they were both thriving entities due to the overland trade passing through the area en route to Iraq either from overland routes or via the Arabian Gulf. As income from trade severely declined following the collapse of the Roman Empire around 200 AD, these areas lost their former position of wealth and control. However, agricultural settlements of Al-Hasa and Qatif continued to provide food for the local markets, while Qatif provided fish and pearls.

Key influences on the Eastern Province were its transition to Islam in the 7th century and the Ottoman occupation from 1871-1913. The Turks were finally ousted by Ibn Saud with the creation of the modern-day Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

In 1936, oil was discovered in the Eastern Province and commercial production began in 1938. Today, the Eastern Province is the headquarters of Saudi Aramco, which controls 25% of the world’s oil resources. Revenues from oil have been used wisely to diversify the Kingdom’s industrial base. Today, Saudi Arabia produces chemicals, plastics, cement, fertilizer, and metals. Agriculturally, with irrigation projects which have reclaimed many acres of desert, grains, citrus fruits, vegetables, and dates, are grown.

The Unification of Saudi Arabia

While Islam was a uniting factor in the 7th century, the inhabitants of the Peninsula did not remain united and existed as a collection of diverse settled communities and nomadic tribes.

Modern Arabia owes its existence to Ibn Saud who in 1902 conquered the Nejd. From there, he gained control of Al Hasa and the Hejaz regions and in 1932 proclaimed himself king of a united Saudi Arabia. He ruled until his death in 1953 and has been succeeded by members of the royal family since then. Today, the official ruler is King Fahd.

The Impact of Islam

The Prophet Mohammad was born in Mecca around 570 AD. At around age 40, he received a revelation. He claims he received a record of scripture, the Holy Koran, from the Angel Gabriel. Within the Koran and in “hadiths,” famous sayings of the Prophet, there are instructions to follow regarding health. For example, it is mentioned in the Koran that a woman going into labor should eat dates. Hence, it is a common practice in Arabia to this day. The Prophet Mohammad termed black caraway (black seed) as the “seed of blessings,” stating that it was a cure for everything except death. Black seed also is used extensively to this day. It is difficult to know how widely used they were prior to Islam, but it is certain that the teachings of the Koran and the Prophet played a significant role in formulating natural health remedies.