Modern islamic radicalism roots go back to the Eighteenth Century when Abdul Wahhab ( 1703 - 1791 ) started a reactionary movement to clean up the Islamic religion. Islam was riddled with back sliders and Wahhab was a True Believer on a mission.
Keep in mind, those were the days when the sun might not have set on the British Empire but the Ottoman Empire cast a formidable shadow. If Britain was to continue its expansion it had to substantially weaken or eliminate the Ottoman Empire
This is a very brief outline of what developed.
1744 - 1818 Wahhabi - Saudi Alliance
Wahhab allied with Mohammed bin Sa’ud. This provided Wahhab protection and Sa’ud religious legitimacy. This marks the beginning of the Salafi revivalist movement. Sa’ud son marries Wahhab daughter to seal the pact which lasts to this day. Great Britain helped with guns and money.
1746
Wahhabi - Saudi alliance declare jihad on shiites and the sunnis.
1791
Abdul Wahhab dies but Wahhabi - Saudi power increases.
April 1801 - 1810
Wahhabis massacre Shiites, kill pilgrims in Mecca and desecrate the tomb of Mohammed in Medina.
1811 - 1818
Caliphate of Ottoman Empire soundly defeats Wahabbis. Emir Abdullah al-Sa’ud is beheaded.
1851
Faisal ibn Turki, who escaped Ottoman custody in 1843, asks for British assistance. Great Britain sends Col. Lewis Pelly to Riyahd to work out an agreement. British forces undermined the Caliphate using Abdul Aziz Wahabbis and eventually conquer most of the Arabian peninsula.
1902
The third Saudi - Wahhabi State was born and name Saudi Arabia. Brutality rules.
1932
Transition time. England hands over Middle east control to U.S.
1979
Wahhabis and Saudi breakup threatened by uprising in Mecca.
2001
Wahhabi cleric, Abdullah bin Jibrin issued Fatwa that justified WTC attack and condemned heretics and muslims who collaborated with the United States. That would be the Saudi family. Regardless, many Wahhabi clerics remained loyal to Saudi regime.
Sunni devotees include the Muslim brotherhood, the late Osama bin Laden, Hezbollah and Al Qaeda, modern day versions of the Salafist.
bookmarking for outline of mideast history.
Thanks!
bkmk