Did guys like Bin Laden, who were intelligent organisators, had a lot of formal education etc. occupy themselves with earlier terrorists? Did they learn about Anarchist terrorism at the turn of the century, like in Russia between 1905 and 1917?
Is it known how they got the idea that terrorism helps them achieve their goals?
"Earlier terrorists" I highly recommend you to pick yourself up a copy of The Great War for Civilization - The Conquest of The Middle East by Robert Fisk. The first known Mujuhideen come from the French invasion of Algeria. There's something I have always found very interesting when talking/reading about extreme Islamism and it's that we in the west seem to have this idea that there is this unified unity in the Middle East. Far from it. They have immense problems because of their different ramifications of Islam and the radicals came about when we in the West walk into their land. Starting by the French in Algeria, the English in India and the Russians in the Stans (leading to the creation of Pakistan, Afghanistan,etc) up until what we're all witnessed in the last decade. If your seriously interested in The Middle East. Get the book and don't be afraid about its size, it's probably the most unbiased book on the subject. Peace ✌
Edit. I forgot to comment on your last comment. I belive that the retaliation and use of violence cone from when a community/group of people/ country are pushed to such an extreme- limit, that they feel they have no other viable escape apart from violence. Look at all places that have terrorism and see the points they have in common. Violence only makes everything worse .. much worse. But in a world where eveything is about The biggest and the strongest who has the power - it's seems really hard to remember Ghandi/Mandela/... in these moments. As history teaches us ... he is the only who achieved some thing