Bahrain
Bahrain is an island on the Persian Gulf, and its capital is also its main city of Manama. Arabic is the official language of Bahrain, but many Bahrainis are also of Persian, Omani and other descents. It is also half populated with foreigners from countries such as Iran, Pakistan, and Britain. Because of this wide variation, Persian and English are also common languages in Bahrain. The country is also composed of a majority Muslim majority, which is further divided into a majority branch of Shia Muslims and a minority of Sunni Muslims. But there remains a wide wealth gap between the two branches, causing much conflict in the country. Economically, it is a major center of trade with its largest imports being crude petroleum and exports being refined petroleum and other metal goods. It’s main partners of trade are Saudi Arabia, Japan, and the United States. Government-wise, it has been declared a constitutional hereditary monarchy, which is why it is the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Current problems still include the ongoing fight between the wealthy minority Sunni Muslims and the poor majority Shia Muslims over human rights issues. It has resolved its longtime unease with Qatar over the control of the Hawar Islands by claiming those islands for themselves but giving Qatar other islands. However, this border dispute has been reopened once again between the two countries. However, Bahrain continues to harbor a good relationship with the US, but because of Iran’s ties to the majority Shiite population in the area and the ongoing unease between Iran and the US, the relationship between Bahrain and US may sometimes become slightly rocky.
Dilmun Civilization
The Dilmun civilization was one of the four original civilizations that were founded in the river valleys around the Middle East. However, this civilization was located on the island of Bahrain in the third millennium BC. Besides being a real, concrete trading hotspot because of its prime location close to the Mesopotamian and Indus Valley civilizations, it is also considered a mythological location by Mesopotamian myths. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, the hero Gilgamesh needs to find Ut-napishtim, an immortal man in order to gain the secrets of immortality, and Dilmun is where he was guessed to be. It was also mentioned in Sumerian mythology also as a place of mystery and nature. The Dilmun civilization was known for its excellent ships that made the large scale of trading possible. It served as an almost midpoint between the Middle East and South Asia, and it was most likely made so popular because of its abundant water springs in an area surrounded with desert. Its main trade was in copper, but it also was an agriculture hub. And based on the Sumerian myths that take place in the ancient Dilmun and the many coffins filled with worldly possessions such as gold and weapons, it can be assumed that the Dilmun civilization followed Mesopotamian and Egyptian religious practices.
Islamic Age
Before the Islamic Age hit Bahrain, the citizens worshipped idols. However, in the seventh century, The Prophet Muhammed sent a messenger named Al-Ala'a Al-Hadrami to the then ruler of Bahrain, which in these ancient times included modern-day Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain, to convince them to covert to Islam. The ruler promptly announced his conversion to Islam and most of the Bahraini region converted along with their ruler. Also in this time, The Prophet assigned a governor to Bahrain who supported the Caliphate Ali Ibn Abi Talib. This started the rise of the Shiite branch of Islam in Bahrain as the Shiite branch is supportive of Ali, the husband of the Prophet’s daughter Fatimah, as the caliphate after the death of Prophet Muhammed. The Sunnis wanted to democratically choose the next leader instead of only keeping it within the Prophet’s family, and this majority won out. This struggle between the Shia and Sunni Muslims within Bahrain remained prevalent, especially when in 1783, when the Sunni Al Khalifa family became the ruler of Shia-majority Bahrain. This was the catalyst in an already drifting relationship between the poor Shia and the wealthy Sunni Muslims in Bahrain.
Portuguese and Persian Rule
Bahrain was ruled by the Portuguese from 1521-1602 and then the Persians from 1602-1783. Bahrain was a strategic midpoint for the Portuguese to dominate and control the trade in the region because it was between the key trading locations of Hormuz Strait and Basra in Iraq. The Portuguese built big fortresses with towers, connecting walls, and surrounded with trenches named the Qala’at al-Bahrain to secure their location in Bahrain. This fort and trading port also served as the capital of Dilmun, and was the hotspot of 16th century Bahrain.
The Portuguese were only pushed out of power when the Shah Abbas of the Savafid dynasty of the Persian Empire took over. When the Persians took over, Bahrain became a part of the Persian Empire, which itself was looked over by the Iranian Achaemenid dynasty. Bahrain was a part of many other Iranian dynasties and Persian Empires. However, when Iran was attacked by Afghanistan in the early 18th century, Oman had the opportunity to take Bahrain from the Persians. Persia was able to gain back control with the help from the British and Dutch in 1736. The Persians only lasted for a little while longer in control, until the BaniUtbah tribe from Qatar took control. And Bahrain went through many other colonization attempts later on from the Omanis to the Qataris, but this Persian control left a large population of Bahrainis of Persian descent called the Ajams.
Rise of Britain
In an attempt to prevent the rise of other countries such as Egypt, Persia and Russia in the 19th century and to protect its own colonies, Britain intervened in these other powers’ colonization efforts. There was a Bahraini-British treaty signed in 1820 which established the British protectorate in 1861 and Britain was responsible for the defense of Bahrain and its foreign affairs; the Al Khalifas of Bahrain in return agreed to not conduct any of the activities that Britain was against and to stop these activities from happening in this region: activities such as war and piracy. The Al-Khalifa dynasty during this time experienced much conflict due to the constant fighting and overthrowing of their family members. Bahrain continued signing friendship treaties with Britain, but Britain grew tired of the constant fighting within the family, so they put Sheikh Isa Ibn Ali Al Khalifa in power of Bahrain. This sheikh was given free rein by Britain, but he was too conservative for the British, and his son, Hamad was brought in to help. The British were also establishing a naval base in Bahrain during the time and exporting oil from the island. During this British Protectorate period, Iran attempted to claim Bahrain, but they failed.
Independent Nation
In 1956, the Suez crisis began where the control for the valuable Suez Canal in Egypt led to a war between Egypt and Israel with the Israelis supported by British and French forces. At this point, Bahrain had already started experiencing riots and protests to expel the British from Bahrain for supporting the Israelis and there was a sense of Arab nationalism arising from all Arab countries including Bahrain. It became too difficult for the British to keep its forces in Bahrain, so they removed their forces and therefore, their protectorate status in Bahrain in August 1971. Sheikh Isa still signed a treaty of friendship with the British to maintain a good relationship with them, and the sheikh became the emir of Bahrain, which made him the official head and commander. Sheikh was only a term of respect, not particularly power. Independent Bahrain then joined the United Nations and the Arab League.
Bahrain is an island on the Persian Gulf, and its capital is also its main city of Manama. Arabic is the official language of Bahrain, but many Bahrainis are also of Persian, Omani and other descents. It is also half populated with foreigners from countries such as Iran, Pakistan, and Britain. Because of this wide variation, Persian and English are also common languages in Bahrain. The country is also composed of a majority Muslim majority, which is further divided into a majority branch of Shia Muslims and a minority of Sunni Muslims. But there remains a wide wealth gap between the two branches, causing much conflict in the country. Economically, it is a major center of trade with its largest imports being crude petroleum and exports being refined petroleum and other metal goods. It’s main partners of trade are Saudi Arabia, Japan, and the United States. Government-wise, it has been declared a constitutional hereditary monarchy, which is why it is the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Current problems still include the ongoing fight between the wealthy minority Sunni Muslims and the poor majority Shia Muslims over human rights issues. It has resolved its longtime unease with Qatar over the control of the Hawar Islands by claiming those islands for themselves but giving Qatar other islands. However, this border dispute has been reopened once again between the two countries. However, Bahrain continues to harbor a good relationship with the US, but because of Iran’s ties to the majority Shiite population in the area and the ongoing unease between Iran and the US, the relationship between Bahrain and US may sometimes become slightly rocky.
Dilmun Civilization
The Dilmun civilization was one of the four original civilizations that were founded in the river valleys around the Middle East. However, this civilization was located on the island of Bahrain in the third millennium BC. Besides being a real, concrete trading hotspot because of its prime location close to the Mesopotamian and Indus Valley civilizations, it is also considered a mythological location by Mesopotamian myths. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, the hero Gilgamesh needs to find Ut-napishtim, an immortal man in order to gain the secrets of immortality, and Dilmun is where he was guessed to be. It was also mentioned in Sumerian mythology also as a place of mystery and nature. The Dilmun civilization was known for its excellent ships that made the large scale of trading possible. It served as an almost midpoint between the Middle East and South Asia, and it was most likely made so popular because of its abundant water springs in an area surrounded with desert. Its main trade was in copper, but it also was an agriculture hub. And based on the Sumerian myths that take place in the ancient Dilmun and the many coffins filled with worldly possessions such as gold and weapons, it can be assumed that the Dilmun civilization followed Mesopotamian and Egyptian religious practices.
Islamic Age
Before the Islamic Age hit Bahrain, the citizens worshipped idols. However, in the seventh century, The Prophet Muhammed sent a messenger named Al-Ala'a Al-Hadrami to the then ruler of Bahrain, which in these ancient times included modern-day Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain, to convince them to covert to Islam. The ruler promptly announced his conversion to Islam and most of the Bahraini region converted along with their ruler. Also in this time, The Prophet assigned a governor to Bahrain who supported the Caliphate Ali Ibn Abi Talib. This started the rise of the Shiite branch of Islam in Bahrain as the Shiite branch is supportive of Ali, the husband of the Prophet’s daughter Fatimah, as the caliphate after the death of Prophet Muhammed. The Sunnis wanted to democratically choose the next leader instead of only keeping it within the Prophet’s family, and this majority won out. This struggle between the Shia and Sunni Muslims within Bahrain remained prevalent, especially when in 1783, when the Sunni Al Khalifa family became the ruler of Shia-majority Bahrain. This was the catalyst in an already drifting relationship between the poor Shia and the wealthy Sunni Muslims in Bahrain.
Portuguese and Persian Rule
Bahrain was ruled by the Portuguese from 1521-1602 and then the Persians from 1602-1783. Bahrain was a strategic midpoint for the Portuguese to dominate and control the trade in the region because it was between the key trading locations of Hormuz Strait and Basra in Iraq. The Portuguese built big fortresses with towers, connecting walls, and surrounded with trenches named the Qala’at al-Bahrain to secure their location in Bahrain. This fort and trading port also served as the capital of Dilmun, and was the hotspot of 16th century Bahrain.
The Portuguese were only pushed out of power when the Shah Abbas of the Savafid dynasty of the Persian Empire took over. When the Persians took over, Bahrain became a part of the Persian Empire, which itself was looked over by the Iranian Achaemenid dynasty. Bahrain was a part of many other Iranian dynasties and Persian Empires. However, when Iran was attacked by Afghanistan in the early 18th century, Oman had the opportunity to take Bahrain from the Persians. Persia was able to gain back control with the help from the British and Dutch in 1736. The Persians only lasted for a little while longer in control, until the BaniUtbah tribe from Qatar took control. And Bahrain went through many other colonization attempts later on from the Omanis to the Qataris, but this Persian control left a large population of Bahrainis of Persian descent called the Ajams.
Rise of Britain
In an attempt to prevent the rise of other countries such as Egypt, Persia and Russia in the 19th century and to protect its own colonies, Britain intervened in these other powers’ colonization efforts. There was a Bahraini-British treaty signed in 1820 which established the British protectorate in 1861 and Britain was responsible for the defense of Bahrain and its foreign affairs; the Al Khalifas of Bahrain in return agreed to not conduct any of the activities that Britain was against and to stop these activities from happening in this region: activities such as war and piracy. The Al-Khalifa dynasty during this time experienced much conflict due to the constant fighting and overthrowing of their family members. Bahrain continued signing friendship treaties with Britain, but Britain grew tired of the constant fighting within the family, so they put Sheikh Isa Ibn Ali Al Khalifa in power of Bahrain. This sheikh was given free rein by Britain, but he was too conservative for the British, and his son, Hamad was brought in to help. The British were also establishing a naval base in Bahrain during the time and exporting oil from the island. During this British Protectorate period, Iran attempted to claim Bahrain, but they failed.
Independent Nation
In 1956, the Suez crisis began where the control for the valuable Suez Canal in Egypt led to a war between Egypt and Israel with the Israelis supported by British and French forces. At this point, Bahrain had already started experiencing riots and protests to expel the British from Bahrain for supporting the Israelis and there was a sense of Arab nationalism arising from all Arab countries including Bahrain. It became too difficult for the British to keep its forces in Bahrain, so they removed their forces and therefore, their protectorate status in Bahrain in August 1971. Sheikh Isa still signed a treaty of friendship with the British to maintain a good relationship with them, and the sheikh became the emir of Bahrain, which made him the official head and commander. Sheikh was only a term of respect, not particularly power. Independent Bahrain then joined the United Nations and the Arab League.