The History

From 2200 to 1600 BC Dilmun controlled a large section of the western shore of the Gulf.  Between 1600 and 1000 BC, Dilmun fell into decline and by about 600 BC it had been fully absorbed by Babylon.  From the 9th to the 11th century AD Bahrain was part of thee Umayyad and later, Abbasid empires.  It was once again on the trade routes between Mesopotamia and the Indian subcontinent, and as one of the Gulf's main pearling ports clearly had economic value.

It was not until the mid-18th century that the Al-Khalifa, the family that now rules Bahrain, first arrived in the area.  They initially settled in Zubara, on the north-western edge of the Qatar peninsula, and involved themselves in the region's lucrative pearling trade.  They drove the Persians out of Bahrain in about 1782.  Three years later, however, the Al-Khalifa were driven out by an Omani invasion and they did not return until 1820.  

Bahrain was the first place on the Arabian side of the Gulf where oil was discovered.  This came at a great time since it coincided with the collapse of the world pearl market.  

Bahrain's drive for modernization began under Sheikh Hamad bin Ali and grew under his son, Sheikh Sulman, who came to power when Sheikh Hamad died in 1942.  Sulman's 19 years on the throne saw an increase in the country's standard of living as oil production boomed in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar.  Sheikh Sulman died in 1961 and was succeeded by his son, Sheikh Isa bin Sulman al-Khalifa.  He was in power when we lived here before.  He reigned until his death on March 6, 1999, and was replaced by his son, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa.  Bahrain became independent on August 14, 1971 from England.  

About half of the population is under 25 years old.  Nearly 40% of residents (and 60% of the workforce) are non-Bahrainis or expatriates.  Manama is probably the most cosmopolitan city in the Gulf, populated by more western business people, Filipino shop workers and Pakistani and Indian shop owners than Bahrainis.  Bahrainis are Arabs, though many are at least partially of Persian ancestry.

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