Bahrain

Quick Facts: Who was Bahrain?

Subject:

Bahrain

Known for:

Island nation in West Asia, historically famed for its pearl trade and strategic location.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Bahrain, officially the Kingdom of Bahrain, is an island country in the eastern part of Arabian Peninsula in West Asia. Situated near the western shore of the Persian Gulf, the country comprises a small archipelago of 33 natural islands and an additional 50 artificial islands, centred on Bahrain Island, which makes up around 80 percent of the country's landmass. Bahrain is situated between Qatar and the northeastern coast of Saudi Arabia, to which it is connected by the King Fahd Causeway. The population is 1,588,670 as of 2024, of whom 739,736 (46.6% of the population) are Bahraini nationals, and 848,934 are expatriates (53.4% of the population). Bahrain spans some 760 square kilometres (290 sq mi) and is the third-smallest nation in Asia after Maldives and Singapore.

Career & Major Achievements

The capital and largest city is Manama. The area that straddles the present-day territory of Bahrain was once the site of the ancient Dilmun civilisation. It has been famed since antiquity for its pearl fisheries, which were considered the best in the world into the 19th century. Bahrain was one of the earliest areas to be influenced by Islam, during the lifetime of Muhammad in 628. Following a period of Arab rule, Bahrain was ruled by the Portuguese Empire from 1521 until 1602, when they were expelled by Shah Abbas the Great of the Safavid Iran.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In 1783, the Bani Utbah and allied tribes captured Bahrain from Nasr Al-Madhkur. It has since been ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family, with Ahmed al Fateh as Bahrain's first hakim. In the late 19th century, following successive treaties with the British, Bahrain became a protectorate of the United Kingdom. In 1971, it declared independence. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a semi-constitutional monarchy in 2002, and Article 2 of the constitution made sharia a principal source for legislation.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1521: 1521 Milestone — Following a period of Arab rule, Bahrain was ruled by the Portuguese Empire from 1521 until 1602, when they were expelled by Shah Abbas the Great of the Safavid Iran.
2. 1783: 1783 Milestone — In 1783, the Bani Utbah and allied tribes captured Bahrain from Nasr Al-Madhkur.
3. 2002: 2002 Milestone — Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a semi-constitutional monarchy in 2002, and Article 2 of the constitution made sharia a principal source for legislation.
4. 2024: 2024 Milestone — The population is 1,588,670 as of 2024, of whom 739,736 (46.

Notable Quotes by Bahrain

“That on the island of Tylos, situated in the Persian Gulf, are large plantations of cotton trees...”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Bahrain

True or False: “The name Bahrain originally referred only to the modern archipelago and not the wider region of Eastern Arabia.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Until the late Middle Ages, 'Bahrain' referred to a much larger region encompassing parts of southern Iraq, Kuwait, and Al-Hasa.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud — Historical peer (Died in 2024) (2024): Somaliland politician, served as President from 2010 to 2017.
• Akira Toriyama — Historical peer (Died in 2024) (2024): Pioneering manga artist, creator of Dr. Slump and the global phenomenon, Dragon Ball.
• Ferdinand Magellan — Historical peer (Died in 1521) (1521): Portuguese explorer famed for the first circumnavigation attempt.
• Josquin des Prez — Historical peer (Died in 1521) (1521): Master composer of the Renaissance, central to the Franco-Flemish School.
• Abul Fazl — Historical peer (Died in 1602) (1602): Pioneering Mughal historian, writer, and Grand Vizier of Emperor Akbar's court.
• Athanasius Kircher — Historical peer (Born in 1602) (1602): German Jesuit polymath renowned for works in religion, geology, and comparative studies.
• Adam František Kollár — Historical peer (Died in 1783) (1783): Pioneering Slovak jurist, historian, and coiner of the term ethnology.
• Agustín de Iturbide — Historical peer (Born in 1783) (1783): Mexican military officer and politician who became the first Emperor of Mexico.
• Abd El-Razzak El-Sanhuri — Historical peer (Died in 1971) (1971): Pioneering Egyptian jurist, celebrated for authoring the revised Civil Code of 1948.
• Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi — Historical peer (Born in 1971) (1971): Iraqi militant leader and founder of the Islamic State (IS)

Frequently Asked Questions about Bahrain