Inhabited primarily by Bedouin tribes who practiced polytheism
Nabatean Kingdom controlled parts of north-western Arabia
Mecca was central hub for trade and religion
Christianity and Judaism popular in southern Arabia
Tribes influenced by neighbouring civilizations (Rome, Persia, Ethiopia)

Muhammed born in Mecca (570), spoke of revelations (610)
Islamic state formed by Muhammed in Medina, uniting tribes (622), Mecca spiritually conquered by Muhammed and his followers (630)
After his death, the Rshidun Caliphate succeeded him and began to expand Islam

Political centre of Islam moves to Damascus, reducing Arabian Peninsula’s influence

Capital moved to Baghdad, reducing Arabia’s influence further
Mecca and other cities became central nodes along trade routes, linking to Africa, India and the Orient
The Qarmatians (radical sect of Islam) rebelled and sacked Mecca in 930

Mamluks of Egypt took control of the Hejaz region, building infrastructure to support pilgrimages to Mecca
The centre of the Arabian Peninsula remained isolated from Islamic authority and was still populated by Bedouin tribes
Ibn Taymiyyah (1263-1328) imposed strict Islamic rule

The Ottoman defeated the Mamlucks om 1517 and integrated Hejaz into their empire, they further invested in pilgrimage routes
The interior of Arabia still remained uninfluenced

Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab and Muhammed ibn Saud began the Wahhabi movement, imposing strict Islam, unifying the Bedouin tribes, and then attacking the Ottomans

The Egyptian faction of the Ottoman Empire destroyed the Saudi state in 1818 and expanded to rule Arabia

The British Empire became a key player in Saudi politics, A second Saudi state was formed in the central region, however faced division and internal strife

Abdulaziz Ibn Saud formed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the discovery of it’s oil in 1938 meant its wealth and power grew rapidly
In 1955 it became independent of the British Empire