Saudi Arabia History and Geography Quiz

Who founded the Saudi dynasty in 1740, which led to the naming of Saudi Arabia?

• Muhammad ibn Saud

• Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab

• Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Rahman

• Graeme Wood

Which three cities are considered the main population centers of Saudi Arabia?

• Jeddah, Mecca, and Medina

• Riyadh, Dammam, and Tabuk

• Jeddah, Riyadh, and Abha

• Mecca, Taif, and Hail

Based on the maps, what significant change occurred in Saudi Arabia by 1932?

• The unification of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

• The division of Saudi Arabia into two states

• The loss of territory to neighboring countries

• The establishment of a new capital city

What is Wahhabism, and how did its followers view the Shi’a?

• An extreme form of Sunni fundamentalism; they saw the Shi’a as heretics

• A branch of Shi’a Islam; they saw the Sunni as allies

• A secular movement; they ignored religious differences

• A Christian sect; they had no opinion on the Shi’a

Why is the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia considered most open to sabotage?

• Because of the hundreds of gas and oil pipelines there

• Because it is the capital region

• Because it is mostly desert

• Because it is the religious center

Who were the Ikhwan, as mentioned in the context of early 20th-century Saudi Arabia?

• A rival clan to the House of Saud

• Ultra-Wahhabi warriors who fought non-Wahhabi Muslims

• British diplomats in Arabia

• Oil company executives

Which two holiest cities of Islam did the Saudis control after defeating the Hashemite clan?

• Baghdad and Damascus

• Mecca and Medina

• Cairo and Jerusalem

• Riyadh and Jeddah

What was the significance of the 1933 contract between Saudi Arabia and the Standard Oil Company of California (SOCAL)?

• It established the first Saudi university

• It allowed SOCAL to explore Saudi Arabia for oil, leading to the creation of Aramco

• It ended the rule of the Hashemites

• It created the Saudi national bank

Explain how the discovery of oil in 1932 impacted Saudi Arabia’s role on the world stage, especially during and after World War II.

• It made Saudi Arabia a minor regional player

• It had no significant impact on Saudi Arabia’s global importance

• It elevated Saudi Arabia’s importance due to its oil resources, making it a key player internationally

• It led to the immediate decline of the Saudi monarchy

In 1979, what event led to a violent confrontation at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, and what was the accusation against the House of Saud?

• A foreign invasion; accused of collaborating with Western powers

• Islamic dissidents stormed the mosque, accusing the House of Saud of betraying the faith

• Oil workers’ strike; accused of economic mismanagement

• Hashemite uprising; accused of losing control of Mecca