A critical but oft overlooked piece of Saudi history is the seizure of the Grand Mosque in Mecca and its consequences:<p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Grand_Mosque_seizure#Policies" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Grand_Mosque_seizure#Policies</a><p>The Royal family essentially entered into a Faustian pact with the religious fundamentalists who&#x27;ve held massive sway over the country ever since. (Not unlike The Sparrows in GOT).