Salafism is a reform (as in reform back to old traditions, so it's really fundamentalist) branch of Sunnism which started in late 19th century Egypt as basically a very conservative reaction to European imperialism and Ottoman reforms. Salafism in this form has roots in the 18th century Wahhabi movement which started in Najd in present day Saudi Arabia. It advocates a return to a (imo mythical) pure form of islam that they purport to have been practieced by the salaf, the first three generations of Muslims. Now it's confusing though, because various movements have been called salafist over the centuries, but the modern salafism I think everyone refers to is the one that is rooted in the Wahhabi movement. Al-Qaeda is a jihadist movement/organization within salafism.
Salafism is a reform (as in reform back to old traditions, so it's really fundamentalist) branch of Sunnism which started in late 19th century Egypt as basically a very conservative reaction to European imperialism and Ottoman reforms. Salafism in this form has roots in the 18th century Wahhabi movement which started in Najd in present day Saudi Arabia. It advocates a return to a (imo mythical) pure form of islam that they purport to have been practieced by the salaf, the first three generations of Muslims. Now it's confusing though, because various movements have been called salafist over the centuries, but the modern salafism I think everyone refers to is the one that is rooted in the Wahhabi movement. Al-Qaeda is a jihadist movement/organization within salafism.