Overview of the Department of History at King Saud University

The importance of the discipline of history derives from its study and interpretation of human events and activities. The benefits and objectives of studying history are not limited to explaining the events and circumstances of the past and drawing lessons from them; they also extend to examining the present and anticipating the future through the study of past events and developments. History is therefore an essential discipline for tracing the course of human civilization.

The significance of the Department of History lies in its close association with the development of the educational movement in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was one of the first two departments established at King Saud University, the oldest university in the country, when the university was founded in 1377 AH / 1957 CE. Since its establishment, the department has attracted distinguished professors and prominent historians from within Saudi Arabia and abroad. It has also sent a large number of its graduates to renowned universities in Europe and the United States to pursue advanced studies and return to their country to contribute to its academic and educational mission.

Over the past fifty years, thousands of graduates have completed their studies in the department and gone on to serve their country in senior positions. Among them have been ministers, directors, ambassadors, senior government officials, business leaders, intellectuals, scholars, researchers, and writers who have contributed to the administration and development of various institutions and organizations in Saudi Arabia. The study of history at King Saud University has never been restricted to male students; thousands of female students have also enrolled, at times outnumbering male students. This contributed to expanding access to university education for women in the Kingdom. The department also introduced an affiliated-study system in 1394 AH / 1974 CE, further contributing to the expansion of higher education.

During the first decades following its establishment, the Department of History incorporated archaeological studies into its academic programs, with archaeology being taught alongside history. As archaeological studies matured and developed into an independent field of specialization, they were separated from the department and established as an independent department in 1395 AH / 1975 CE. Thus, the Department of History played a foundational role in the establishment of the Department of Archaeology, which has since developed into an independent college.

The Department of History has also continuously developed its curricula and academic plans throughout its history. These developments have been aligned with the Kingdom's national development programs, responding to their needs and contributing to the preparation of qualified professionals to support them.

One of the department's principal objectives has been to contribute to the development of the Kingdom's academic and cultural movement and to prepare the qualified professionals needed by the country, including teachers, researchers, intellectuals, administrators, cultural professionals, and community leaders. This is achieved by providing students with knowledge and skills that broaden their intellectual horizons, develop their abilities, and build their personalities, thereby preparing them to serve their society and country. This is accomplished through the study of general and specialized courses covering different historical periods.

The Department of History established graduate programs after developing the necessary academic capacity through its national and contracted faculty members. The department awarded its first master's degree in 1398 AH / 1978 CE and its first doctoral degree in 1413 AH / 1993 CE. It also established the Master of Arts program in the National History of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1431 AH / 2010 CE. Since then, the department's graduate programs have advanced considerably, producing dozens of graduates who have helped address significant needs in higher education, academic research, and administration in the Kingdom.

The objectives and significance of the Department of History extend beyond producing graduates holding bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. The department also seeks to serve as a center of expertise and an important reference institution for historical issues of national significance, supporting government agencies, public institutions, and private organizations in the Kingdom. This role is reinforced by the department's status as the oldest history department in Saudi Arabia and by its distinguished faculty of historians and specialists in the history of Saudi Arabia, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Islamic world.

Since its establishment, the Department of History at King Saud University has contributed to the study and preservation of the history of Saudi Arabia by educating specialists and researchers in the history of the country, producing books and encyclopedias, conducting and publishing historical research on Saudi Arabia both domestically and internationally, and participating in seminars and conferences inside and outside the Kingdom. The department has also organized historical seminars and established historical societies, most notably the Symposium on the History of the Arabian Peninsula, which has been held every four years since 1397 AH / 1977 CE, and the Saudi Historical Society, which was established in 1408 AH / 1988 CE and has held an annual meeting since its establishment.

The department's long-standing experience in historical studies has also produced significant contributions to academic research, including the establishment of the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Chair for Historical and Civilizational Studies of the Arabian Peninsula in 1431 AH / 2010 CE. The Chair has played a prominent role in historical scholarship through academic publications, seminars, and lectures dedicated to advancing the study of the history of the Arabian Peninsula.

Another outcome of this long-standing scholarly tradition was the issuance of a Royal Order in 1433 AH / 2012 CE transforming the International Symposium on the History of the Arabian Peninsula into a specialized center, the Center for Studies of the History and Civilization of the Arabian Peninsula, within the Department of History.

In 2016, the Department of History had the honor of awarding the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, an honorary doctorate in History in recognition of his patronage of and commitment to history and cultural heritage, as well as his support for academic and cultural efforts aimed at preserving the historical heritage of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and advancing historical studies.