Bahrain 

History of Bahrain

Bahrain is the site of the Dilmun Civilization, one of the oldest civilizations in history. It was one of the first countries to convert to Islam in 688 AD, and was conquered by the Portuguese, who were then expelled by the Savafid Empire in 1602. Ahmed Al Fateh was the first hakim of Bahrain, and since then the ruling family has been Al-Khalifa. In the 1800’s, following a successful treaty with the British, Bahrain became a protectorate of the United Kingdom. Following many protests and meetings, Bahrain declared independence from Britain in 1971, and Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa became the first Emir of Bahrain. His son, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa succeeded him in 1999, and became the first King of Bahrain, after it was declared a Kingdom in 2002.

 

                                                             

                                                           One of Bahrain’s main sources of income is petroleum. Oil was discovered here in 1932, and is                                                                                still being extracted today. Peal diving is another of Bahrain’s specialties, and some of the world’s                                                                            most beautiful and valuable pearls are found here. The pearl diving industry was originally the                                                                                largest source of income before the oil was discovered.

 

 

 

Pottery and basket weaving are a couple of the many crafts found here. The numerous date palm

trees, which gave Bahrain the nickname “Land of a Million Palm Trees”, are very useful when it

comes to trade. Long ago, the trunks were used to make pearl diving ships, and we still use the

leaves for basket weaving. Dates are very common in Arabic and Bahraini sweets, and are never

hard to find in Bahrain.

 

There are many historical ruins in Bahrain, such as the Bahrain Fort, Arad Fort, Riffa Fort and

the Burial Mounds. They are all open to tourists, and are easily accessible. The Grand Mosque

is the largest mosque in Bahrain and is very popular amongst tourists. The large fiberglass dome is currently the largest in the world, and the beautiful islamic patterns that adorn the walls are great for pictures or sketches. It is located in Juffair, in the capital city of Manama,

by King Faisal Highway. 

                                                                          

                                                                     Bahrain has been a trade hub throughout history, connecting the east and the west. Its location was                                                                     extremely beneficial, as it is at the centre of the Gulf's trade routes and pearl diving industry. It was                                                                       the first Arab region to discover oil in 1932, and has since led the transition to modern economy. It was a                                                          also the first Gulf state to move away from dependence on oil. Bahrain is now th eregions leading                                                                          financial centre.  To find out more about the history of Bahrain, visit Bahrain National Museum, on                                                                          Ahmed Al Fateh Highway.