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HISTORY
Danish archeological teams (1965), British teams (1973) and French teams (1976)
who have surveyed and excavated in Qatar have discovered rock carvings and several
pottery which implicates that Qatar was populated as early as 4000 B.C.
In the 5th century BC the Greek historian Herodotus referred to the seafaring
Canaanites as the original inhabitants of Qatar. Further, the geographer Ptolemy
showed in his map of the Arab World "Qatara" as believed to refer to
the Qatari town of "Zubara", which has acquired the fame of being one
of the most important trading ports in the Gulf region at the time.
For its distinguished strategic location in the Arabian Gulf, Qatar attracted
Arabian tribes especially from Najd desert. It acquired the fame of being one
of the most trading ports in the Gulf region. This lead to trading prosperity
and some of its locations emerged as fishing centers such as Al-Beda', Khor,
Wakrah, Al-Zubara which helped in the flourishing of pearl industry.
Qatar played an important role in the Islamic civilization when its inhabitants
participated in the formation and provision of the first naval fleet, which was
assembled to transport the army during the Islamic conquests.
Islam swept the peninsula in mid 7th century A.D. During Abbasside era, Qatar
experienced economic prosperity and had strong ties with Caliphates in Baghdad.
Early 16th century A.D., Qatar fell under the rule of the Portuguese. Soon enough,
Ottomans captured the Gulf in 1538 and since, for four centuries, it followed
the Ottoman Empire rule, amongst its neighboring emirates, but continued to be
ruled by locals Sheikhs.
In 1916 Qatar became a British protectorate, like the other emirates in the Arabian
Gulf. However, the British influence in the country was limited to supervision
of some administrative matters.
In the early 18th century, Qatar was ruled by the Al-Thani family, who take their
name from their ancestor, Thani, father of Skeikh Mohammad Bin Thani, who was
the first Sheikh to rule over the Qatari peninsula during the mid 19th century.
Qatar was proclaimed independent when the British left the Gulf area in 1971,
and it then joined the United Nations. Since then, Qatari culture revolves entirely
around Islam. A monotheistic religion, Islam's holy book is the Qur'an, and Friday
is its sacred day. |
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