And Now.... BAHRAIN
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• Why is "location" an important clue to Bahrain's history? • What role does Bahrain play in the Middle East region today? • Bahrain has few resources, yet thrives in a global economy: What's its secret? • How can it be true that both "tradition" and "change" have a major impact on Bahrain? Here's some background for your research into those questions.

Bahrain: An archipelago. A cluster of islands off the east coast of Saudi Arabia. A small Arab kingdom in southwest Asia, and a prosperous country with more than 650,000 inhabitants. A trade crossroads for thousands of years — and a symbolic crossroads today. Bahrain is a place where tradition meets change — and where both exert an unusually strong influence. Here's the story....

Traditions. Bahrain is like a history textbook. Its "Royal Tombs" prove that, 4,000 years ago, it was home to Dilmun, a great civilization. Archaeological ruins at Fort Bahrain show that many peoples and empires sought to control the main island. Hellenes built a fort there 2,000 years ago. So did the Arabs in the 11th century, and the Portuguese in the 16th century. The lure? Bahrain is a vital link on trade routes between the Middle East and India. And its fresh springs made it an early oasis for sailors crossing the salty gulf in which Bahrain is located.

Arab influence. Among Bahrain's visitors, it was the Arabs, in the 3rd century, who introduced its lasting culture. In government, for example: Family-centered Bahrainis still look to the shaikh for leadership — an Arab tradition. And in religion: Islam unites Bahrainis through belief in God, whom they call Allah; through acceptance of his Prophet Muhammad; and through such practices as community prayer, generosity, and self-discipline. These values have been strong for many centuries.
    The Arabs' arrival on Bahrain did not end attempts by others to control it, however. It was not until 1783 that Shaikh Al-Khalifa defeated a long-running Persian effort to rule Bahrain. Over time, the Khalifa family became Bahrain's hereditary rulers — and its great stabilizing force. In the 1800s, they signed treaties giving Britain access to their ports in exchange for British protection. And they fostered industries based on Bahrain's few known resources: pearl diving, boat building, fishing, and trading.

New developments. In 1932, oil was discovered on Bahrain, and that opened the door to economic change. Schools, hospitals, hotels, ports, and elevated roads (causeways) were built. By the late 1980s, Bahrain — now an independent nation — was serving its gulf region with a drydock for ship repair, an oil refinery, and an aluminum plant that were among the region's largest. Then, as Bahrain's oil supply ebbed, its leaders turned Bahrain into a financial hub and telecommunications center for the Middle East.

And now.... Today, Bahrain is a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the UN. A party to many global treaties, it took part in the 1991 Gulf War, aiding the USA in defense of Kuwait. Bahrain challenges stereotypes: Its hereditary monarchy is centuries-old, yet its current leader, King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, has worked hard to turn Bahrain into a constitutional democracy. In 2001, 98.4 percent of Bahrain's electorate approved of a revised constitution, with a popularly elected parliament. And in May 2002, women took part, for the first time, in local elections — both as voters and as candidates. What can Bahrain teach us about integrating "change" with "tradition"? Lessons in persevering….

Research Tip. To access a good background article on Bahrain, consult the "Index" volume in the Encyclopaedia Britannica.