|
|
Article: Saudis
- Article from:
- Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cultures
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1999 The Gale Group, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Saudis
PRONUNCIATION:
SOWD-eez
LOCATION:
Saudi Arabia
POPULATION:
10 to 16 million
LANGUAGE:
Arabic
RELIGION:
Islam
1
•
INTRODUCTION
Modern-day Saudis are descended from ancient nomadic desert tribes who were fiercely independent. The country, officially known as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, was officially founded on September 23, 1932.
The Islamic religion started in the city of Mecca (or Makkah) in what is now Saudi Arabia sometime around ad 610. Mecca is still the spiritual center of Islam. All Muslims are expected to make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once. Saudi Arabia hosts these pilgrims, who number in the millions every year. The discovery of oil in the 1930s ...