Qatar's History ; HIST121
1.qatars geography and climate
ADVANTAGES
access to sea for pearling, fishing, trade and communications
Between Arabia, Persia, India, and other parts of Gulf (Kuwait, Basra, and Oman)
Coasts are the only places that can sustain longer-term life
some natural borders
DISADVANTAGES
One of the most arid of the gulf countries
Few oases
Brutally hot and humid climate
Inability to sustain agriculture
European literature regarded Q. as “desolate and forbidding”
Hot, humid, and long summers with temperature reaching into the 50s. C.
Short, dry winters, which only last 3-4 months.
NW wind, the “Shamal” - winds that come in late summer and create dust storms.
ITS IMPACT ON SOCIETY AND CULTURE
A very sparse settled population on the coasts that did not begin to become an
independent political unit until late 19th c.
Mobility a necessity
Dependency on neighbors for trade and protection
The Gulf and Arabia functioned as one economic and social organism
A society divided between settlers and nomads
Hadar: settlers (usually the minority)
Semi-nomads: bedu who lived a life of periodic movement and settlement
Nomads: bedu who were constantly migrating
A society divided into tribes
Tribes are the units of political, social, and economic life
Extended families called tribes run by a sheikh
Tribes united and divide
Sheikh, the ruler, depends on the cooperation of his tribesmen but does not have
any formal and absolute authority
inhabitants of small coastal settlements (called towns or villages). Their mode of existence was
pearl-diving and trading, fishing and sea transportation.
Three tiny fishing villages: Huwaylah (dominated by al-Musallam), Fuwayrat (dominated by al-Sudan), and
Doha (dominated by al-Thani and al-bin-Ali). Each village led by a shaykh and was autonomous.
Famous bedu tribes: Al-Naim, al-Murrah, Bani Hajer, Ajman,
Munasir, Hawajir, Bani Khalid.
3.Ancient and medieval periods
2.History and sources (that historians work with)
4.Foreign Powers in the 16-17th century
5.Tribal settlement and the British Trucial system
SOURCES
WHAR ARE SOURCES? they may be remnants or relics of the past, Historians prefer to work with written sources
PRIMARY SOURCES
Written and oral remnants from the past (they are usually connected with the past)
Oral accounts
Government documents are a favorite source for historians since government keeps
systematic records on everything. These are later stored in the state archive.
SECONDARY SOURCES
Works based on primary sources : e.g. history books and journal articles, or
collection chapters
Usually written by people not directly involved in the events they are studying, but
rather reflecting on them using the kinds of primary sources stated above.
BIAS
What is bias?
Preference for a certain viewpoint, topic, approach, focus, etc in writings of history by individuals/historians.
it can also be tied to prejudice, ethno-centrism, or racism
Sometimes bias can mean preference for the values of one own’s time period
Why is there Bias in history?
Historians are human beings and products of their times and values
They have their own identity: their own views and preference
They are stakeholders of a particular society or group and its interests
They have to articulate history using the language that they know, which in and of itself may be biased to the views/values of a particular
society and culture. E.g. democracy – positive or negative change
HOW TO DEAL WITH BIAS???
Know that there is a bias
Be up front about biases
Ask questions about the author of the history
Ask questions about the context of the history (including, when was it written?)
UNPUBLISHED SOURCES OF QATARS HISTORY
in Arabic
Emir’s Council (Dewan Amiri) Documents
Decrees, protocols, Amiri Correspondences
Records of Sheikh Jassim bin Muhammed Al-Thani (1878-1913)
Records of Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim al-Thani (1913-1949)
Records of the Pre-GCC Nine-member Gulf Union (1968-70)
The Dawaween (Ministries of the State)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministries Council and Shoura Council
Registries, including the judicial system and its courts
Archives, including the Ministry of Education and Finance (1960)
Records: customs & ports, engineering & water, workforce
NON-ARABIC
Nationals archives of India, written in English, the British India government (and before them, the British East India company ) records on all interactions and observations of gulf
Ottoman archives in Istanbul (written in Ottoman Turkish), Ottoman interactions concerning Qatar and Gulf
Portuguese national archives (written in medieval Portuguese)
Reports regarding Portuguese exploration of Gulf
PUBLISHED SOURCES OF QATARS HISTORY
1. Books, booklets, newspapers, bulletins , E.g. The Arab gulf Documents, 1968-1971
2. Explorers and discoverers’ accounts , e.g. Ahmed bin Majid (1421-1500) , Pedro Texeira (1568-1605) , W.G. Palgrave (1826-1888) , Bertram Thomas (1892-1950)
3. newspapers, contemporary books, private collections, material sources, e.g. Qatari architecture
FAMILY TREE
Utub
Al-Tamim
Beni Khaled
Al-Musallam
Al-Abu Hussain
Maadhid
Al-Jalahaima
Al-Khalifa
Al-Sabah
Al-Thani
Muhammad ibn Khalifa
Rahmah bin Jaber
NOTE : there was no 'Qatar' in this era, so it was known more popularly as Al-Ahsa Province
THIS IS NOT INCLUDED IN MIDTERM EXAM
3 Powers: Portuguese , Ottomans , British, their common goal : To dominate the Indian Ocean Economy of Booming spice, textile, and slave trade
Portuguese
The major European power in the region before the British.
Aimed to build a monopoly over Indian Ocean trade and the region’s trade links to the Far East.
Portuguese came as crusaders, tried to convert Muslims to Catholic Christianity using violent and immoral methods.
Portugal commanded the spice and silk route to India and trade in the Gulf throughout the 16th c. (about 100
years)
IMPACTS ON QATAR:
Fired on unknown part of the peninsula. As a result:
movement of tribes to the north and northwest.
Increased stakes in the big power game over the Gulf: Persians, Ottomans, British.
Ottomans
Expansion in the Gulf : to ward off the Portuguese
1546: Ottomans take Basra
1552: Ottomans take al-Ahsa
During the 16th c., Ottoman rule was indirect due to hostility from tribes, the difficult environment, and war
against the Safavids.
LOCAL REVOLT AGAINST OTTOMANS:
Revolt led by Ibn Ghurayr (Arair), 1670
Expelled the Ottomans and gained control over al-Hasa and al-Qatif areas
Establishment of al-Khalidi Emirate, with Mubarraz as
the capital
Lasts until the Wahhabi conquest in 1793
Significance to Qatar?
British
They Created a new trade route via Syrian desert linking
Mediterranean to the Gulf and India, which thus increased Gulf's importance as a commercial zone in the 18th century, trading Cotton, silk, indigo, dye, tea
The Ottoman defeat by the Bani Khalid gave the British an inroad
into the Gulf.
No prominent power opposed them neither at sea nor on the coasts
Established their presence there in the 18th century.
Sheikh Ahmed Al-Khalifa (Ahmed the conqueror)
Abdullah bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa
BACKGROUND:
Zubara founded by Al-Musallam, Al-Maadhed, and Al-Bu Hussain tribes.
Utub tribes(Al-Khalifa) migrate to Qatar.
Bahrain ruled by Nasir Al-Mathkor of Persia.
Initially the Al-Khalifa , led by Muhammad ibn Khalifa, tried but
failed to capture Bahrain, so they came to Zubara in 1766.
The Utub clashed against the Al-Musallam and other tribes and dominated Zubara economically and politically.
Al-Musallam moved to Huwaila; Maadheds moved to Fuwayrit.
Fort Qalat Murair Built after Al-Khalifa clash against al-Mussallam.
it had:
-Guarded the water wells
-A canal (creek) was built from the sea to the fort, allowing
ships to reach the area near the fort directly.
-The fort had other smaller towers and walls near it.
-Later destroyed by the Omanis in 1811.
Zubara under the al-Khalifa
Zubara's importance as a Gulf port city grew in 18th century.
First major center of hadar life on the Qataris peninsula.
Pearl fishing and trade center.
It was a free trade zone (no taxes) , which encouraged merchants to arrive and spurred industry.
Merchants from all over region came there
Benefitted commercially and demographically from the Persian capture of Basra in 1776.
This gave other prominent port cities in Al-Hasa competition.
By 1790, Zubara surpassed Qatif in size and wealth
However, Zubara was itself the center of violence at times:
The Persians attacked Zubara since it was controlled by the al-Khalifa. However, they failed take it from the al-Khalifa.
The Conquest of Bahrain:
Nasser Al-Mathkor attacked Zubara periodically but failed to
take it.
Economic competition marked a motive
1783, the stormed the Al-Murair fort but failed to take it.
The tribes from all of Qatar united:
were joined by Al-Jalahma (Utub) of Kuwait
Tribes included: Musallam , Al bin Ali , Sudan from Doha, Al bu Ainain from Wakrah, Kibisha from Khor Hassan, Manai from Abu Duluf, Sada from Ruwais, Al Bu Kuwara and Al-Naim.
Led by Sheikh Ahmed al-Khalifa, they invaded and captured the
Island of Bahrain from the Persians in 1783
This began Sunni Arab rule of Bahrain, the Al-Khalifa.
CONFLICT AGAINST BAHRAIN’S RULER(AL-Khalifa)
Al-Khalifa rulers refused to share profits with other tribes
These tribes returned to Zubara and northern Qatar, among them, was:
Rahmah bin Jaber, sheikh of the Al-Jalahima (Utub), based in Khor Hassan
He Waged 40 years struggle against Al-Khalifa for Bahrain
This sets the stage for a Qatari-Bahraini conflict that will separate the two politically, but this will last decades and decades.
Zubara’s legacy: a piedmont (base for attacks) against as well as a bridge to Bahrain….
BRITISH TRUCIAL SYSTEM
ORIGINS OF THE TRUCIAL SYSTEM
THE SAUDI STRUGGLE OVER ZUBARA AND BAHRAIN
Bahrain and Zubara became targets of SAUDI VS OMANI powers.
Saudi invasion of northern Qatar, 1793
Saudi governor of Al-Hasa, Sulayman bin Ufaysan attacks Al-Khalifa, who controlled both Zubara and Bahrain.
Saudis allied with Rahmah bin Jaber’s people against Al-Khalifa
This marked the entry of Wahhabi Islam into the Qatari peninsula
Omani conquest of Bahrain, 1800
Opportunism and preemptive move against Saudis
Pretext that Al-Khalifa refused to pay Gulf toll at Hormuz.
Al-Khalifa ruler fled to Zubara and became vassal (subordinate) of the Saudis
Bahrain now ruled by Omanis
Second conquest of Bahrain from Zubara
Saudis, Al-Khalifa, and Qatari tribes attacked and conquered Bahrain from Omanis, 1810
Reminds us of 1783, when Qatari tribes took it from the Persians !
Al-Khalifa now controlled island under the Saudis and raised taxes for them, including from Zubara.
End of Saudi rule in Qatar and Bahrain
Omanis return to attack the Saudis
In alliance with Al-Khalifa, who wanted to restore their control over Bahrain.
Al-Khalifa turned against the Saudis
Saudis were a threat to Omanis, but were being weakened by Egyptian attack on Arabia
Omanis attacked Zubara and drove the Saudis out, 1811
Zubara destroyed by Omanis.
Khor Hassan destroyed by Saudis.
Omanis also drove the Wahhabis from Bahrain and captured the island, 1812
Their rule over the Island did not last long, as Al-Khalifa later recaptured the Island.
When he did so, he continued to control Zubara and other northern Qatari parts and collect a tax from the people there.
British struggled against aggressive Gulf tribes, which they called “pirates”
These were Gulf Arab naval warriors and regional powers.
Among them: the Qawasim (rulers of UAE today) and Rahmah bin Jaber who protected them.
As a solution to this problem, the British navy defeated the Al-Qawasim at Ras al-Khaima in 1820.
Then they turned to establishing the TRUCIAL SYSTEM or signing TREATIES OF TRUCE with other Gulf powers.
British policy towards the Gulf
Became involved in Gulf politics and dominated the Gulf with their navy after 1820.
All Gulf affairs to be managed by the POLITICAL RESIDENT and his POLITICAL AGENTS.
The Gulf’s importance for the British was foremost geopolitical
A buffer zone for British India
In this sense, the Gulf played a similar role to other buffer zones: Burma, Afghanistan, and Iran
The British thus needed the Gulf to be politically stable for their political and commercial interests
A buffer zone and a communication line linking Europe and India.
British Persian Gulf Residency ( the Resident)
British collaborating with Persia since 17th c.
The Resident headquarters in Bushehr (western Irani coast) since late 18th century.
The Resident was a British state title responsible for administrating Britain’s colonial interests in the Gulf
This was the political headquarters of the British in the Gulf.
The Resident answered to the East India Company Governor in Bombay, who was under the head of the Government of India, the Viceroy of Calcutta.
British had their native political agents (Indians, Persians, Arabs) go to speak with the Arabs of the Gulf coast
Sent to local areas of today’s UAE and Bahrain.
EXISTENCE OF PIRACY DROVE THE BRITISH TO START SIGNING TREATIES WITH GULF SHEIKHS IN 1820
The slave trade, which British abolitionists did not approve
Wars and hostility between local and regional Gulf powers, which threatened the Gulf waters
"the Trucial System" ; A Solution
Signing treaties with Gulf tribal leaders, whereby the latter agreed to maintain stable and peaceful conditions, prohibit piracy, and slavery.
The tribal leader who signed the treaty now also served as a sort of sheriff (policeman) for the area he controlled, ensuring that no one fought on the sea or attacked British ships, or posed any other threat to British interests.
Foremost this system served British commercial and political interest, esp. a safe passageway for their caravans and ships along the India-Europe route
The tribal leaders signed since it meant British-backed authority for them. They also expected British protection, but this was not put in the treaty.
General Treaty of Peace, 1820
Terms of the 1820 Treaty
- No more “plunder and piracy”
- All ships must fly the flag of truce: red and white
- No fighting with each other
- No slave trading
Conclusion
No end to war in Gulf
No British protection
Qatar not yet a trucial state.
Seas controlled and regulated, but inland areas become spheres of autonomy
Historic shift to importance of inland areas
British left the state of inland areas to local powers/leaders.
In Qatar, the Al-Thani were able to make their own politics so as to emerge as leaders, which was then recognized by the British.
Mohammed bin Khalifa (Salman)
6.Bahraini Confilct with Al-Thani and the treaty of 1868
CONFLICT WITH BAHRAIN, 1830s
click to edit
Bahrain contested between Al-Khalifa, Saudis, Omanis
Abdullah bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa Fears Saudis and pays them tribute, but eventually stops
Considers Qatar his domain
Interferes in Qatar
Taxes
Pearl trade
Pre-emptive strikes against his enemies
Attacks Abu-Aynayn in Doha in 1828, and people of Bidda dispersed.
Conflict against people of Huwailah
Leader here is Isa bin Tariff, Sheikh of Al-bin-Ali tribe
Major Qatari leader before Mohammed bin Thani
Allied with the Saudis
Abdullah Al-Khalifa attacked him, 3 Oct 1835 with 1,000 men.
Saudis help Isa bin Tarrif, but they are defeated.
muhammad bin thani
Sheikh jassim bin Muhammad Al Thani
Abdullah bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa, Hakim (ruler) of Bahrain (son of Ahmed “the conqueror)
Al-Khalifa Tribal War (or “Civil War in
Bahrain”) 1840-1843
Between the successors of Ahmed “the conqueror” Al-Khalifa
Abdullah bin Ahmed (Abdulla faction) vs. Mohammed bin Khalifa (Salman faction)
Initially Abdullah was Hakim of Bahrain but then he was deposed by Mohammed bin Khalifa
In this conflict, Zubara and other parts of northern Qatar play a vital role:
A piedmont (area for launching attacks) against Bahrain
Area of refuge for the losers of the conflict.
Esp. Khor Hassan
Saudis exploit conflict to seize control of Al-Khalifa, as do Qatari tribes, to free
themselves of Al-Khalifa rule.
ISA BIN TARIF AGAINST THE KHALIFA BROTHERS, 1842-1847
note: please do not get confused as Isa bin Tarif first sides with one Khalifa brother and opposes the other BUT some time later takes sides with the OTHER brother and opposes the first one.
Isa bin Tariff against Abdullah bin Ahmed
Al-Khalifa, 1842
Isa bin Tariff against Muhammad bin Ahmed
Al-Khalifa, 1847
Isa bin Tarif joins Mohammed bin Khalifa (Salman) in attack on Bahrain, 1842
Qatari tribes like Abu Aynayn and Maadhids join
Mohammed bin Thani of Fuwairit joins
click to edit
Mohammed bin Khalifa becomes ruler of Bahrain
Soon Qatari tribes turn against him as well.
He suspects they are conspiring with his enemies
They reconcile with Abdullah bin Ahmad Al-Khalifa, who finds refuge in Khor Hassan
Isa bin Tariff and Qatari tribes pursue Realpolitik (politics of realism) for
independence from Al-Khalifa ruler of Bahrain.
Battle of Umm Suwayya, 1847
Mohammed bin Khalifa sent 1,000 men to surround Fuwairit
Isa bin Tariff and Abullah bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa had force of 600 men
17 Nov. 1847, Battle of Umm Suwayya near Fuwairit
Isa bin Tariff killed along with 80 of his men.
Abdullah bin khalifa defeated and flees to Najid.
Mohammed bin Khalifa takes charge of Qatar.
Attacks Bidda to punishes Al-bin-Ali, Isa’s tribe
Maintains an Al-Khalifa wali (agent) in Doha-Wakra area.
ENTER THE AL-THANI
BACKGROUND
Al-Thani come from the Maadhid tribe of Nejid,
Founder of the Maadhid was Maadhid bin Musharraf, governor of the Jabrin oasis in central Arabia.
The al-Thani claim descent from Bani Tamim tribe of central Arabia, since the Maadhid was a branch of this larger tribe.
Migrated from SE of Qatar peninsula to al-Rowes and al-Zubara.
Early 18th c. migrated to Qatar
Thani bin Mohammed in Zubara
Mohammed bin Thani (r. 1788-1878) in Fuwayrit
Al-Thani hijra from Fuwayrit to Doha
Mohammed bin Thani comes to Doha after defeat at Battle of Umm Suwayya
1848
Economic and political reasons
click to edit
Used diplomacy to survive:
With Mohammed Al-Khalifa
With Saudis
With Abu-Dhabi tribes
Saudi invasion of Doha and the blockade
against Qatar
Faysal bin Turki (from wahhabi saudia) demands Mohammed bin Khalifa’s submission to his rule and tribute payment, but al-khalifa REFUSES, so faysal Joins Abdullah faction, with Mubarrak bin Abdullah bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa, and comes to Qatar to use it against Muhammad Al-Khalifa in 1851
Mohammed bin Thani and tribes of Doha and Wakra welcome him and turn against Ali Al-Khalifa (the wali), Saudis prepare for invasion of Bahrain
Beginning of Al-Thani – Al-Khalifa conflict.
results?
In response, Mohammed bin Khalifa blockades Doha from the sea
Appeals to the British for help
Blockades Al-Hasa coast.
Eventually British forbade the Saudis from making the attack
Blockade against Doha continues as punishment, disrupting pearling.
AL-THANI VS AL-KHALIFA
British used the Saudi-Bahraini conflict to gain own foothold in Bahrain
Al-Khalifa forced to sign a protectorate treaty in 1861
British solve the conflict on a traditional tribal basis
Al-Khalifa is the tax collector for Saudis and others in Bahrain and Qatar
Al-Thani pays him and he pays Saudis
Eventually he stopped paying Saudis but kept taking the payment from the Qataris.
His wali, agent, is his political authority in Doha-Wakra area.
Conflict between the Al-Khalifa and Al-Thani, Over Al-Khalifa exploitation and despotism, and friendly Al-Thani relations with Saudis, Push comes to shove in 1867
The Wakra Incident of 1867
Wali’s men attacked an al-Naim caravan in Wakrah market and Imprisoned its sheikh, Ali bin Thamer
RESULTS:
Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammad Al-Thani mobilizes Qatari tribes against the Al-Khalifa wali
Wali flees to Khawr Hassan
Mohammed bin Khalifa lured Sheikh Jassim to Bahrain and imprisoned him
Battle of Damsa, 1868
June 1868, Qatari tribes attack Bahrain on sea
Battle of Damsa (naval battle)
60 ships sunk and 1,000 men killed.
Qataris imprisoned two big shaykhs of the Al Khalifa and exchanged them for Shaykh Jassim bin Mohammad.
British investigation of the violation of
the Treaty of Truce
British political resident, Col. Lewis Pelly, investigates conflict between Al-Thani and Al-Khalifa
Violation of 1861 treaty and trucial treaty
1 Sept. 1868, interview Mohammed bin Thani on their ship near the port of Warka.
Pelly convinced and travels to Bahrain 5 days later.
Pelly attacked and deposed Mohammed bin Khalifa.
click to edit
Installed their own person as leader in Bahrain, Sheikh Ali.
Ali agreed to imprison Mohammed bin Khalifa and to pay a fine of 100,000 German Crowns for Bahrain’s violation of Treaty of 1861.
click to edit
Mohammad bin Khalifa joins the Abdullah faction in effort to overthrow Ali.
The British defeated them both and sent them to exile in India
Replaced Sheikh Ali with his son Sheikh Isa Al-Khalifa
British pressured Bahrain to remove itself completely from Qatar, Qatar now became its own separate state entity.
The Treaty of 1868
The British Political Resident, Col. Lewis Pelly landed in Wakra and signed a
treaty with Sheikh Muhammad bin Thani, 12 Sept. 1868
The Treaty:
Formal recognition of al-Thani’s authority and ability to govern the tribes of the Q
peninsula, and his representation of Q people
(the conditions of the treaty) Sheikh Mohammed bin Thani agreed to:
to return to Doha, which he left during the attack
to direct any disagreement with Bahrain via the Resident (brits)
to refrain from maritime warfare and not to ally himself to Muhammad Khalifa.
Continue paying zaka’ to al-Khalifa
Allow Banyans (Indians) to trade in Qatar’s ports and cities under the protection of the British.
IMPORTANT: TREATY OF 1868
ITS IMPORTANCE:
Al-Thani had a special status that was different from that of rulers of various Trucial states. As a result, he received new power.
This marked end of al-Khalifa rule in Qatar and replacement with Al-Thani. A step toward independence.
The treaty was a milestone in evolution of Q:
Qatar recognized as independent from Bahrain.
Not until WWI would Great Britain enter into more formal agreements with Q.
The treaty marked the rise of Al-Thani and Q.'s development.
al bin ali
IMPACTS: The foreign powers(British and Portuguese) included Qatar in the Indian Ocean Economic System, so Qatar became a place for pearl trading, etc.
click to edit