History Of Qatar
Over six thousand years ago there were people in Qatar; this has been proved because Bir Zekret, Al Khor and Ras Abaruk were places of Historical digs and remains from the Al-Abaid period where found there.
About 3-4000 years ago, Qatar was a stopover place when trade took place between Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley. During the Greek and Roman Empires Qatar was used as a stopover when trade took place between Europe and India. Cargoes of copper, spices, sandalwood, teak, blackwood, arriving from the East, were exchanged for shipments of purple dye, clothing, pearls, dates, gold and silver which passed through Qatar. In the 7th century, Islam spread to Qatar, when the Prophet Mohammed – peace be upon him – sent an messenger to convert the people who lived here; they had been idol worshippers before this. In the 1200s, it became a place for breeding both camels and horses and this is when the famous pearl fishing began. At this time, there were about 100 small stone-built houses just around Zubara. From the 16th to 18th centuries, Qatar was used again because of the importance of Zubara as a stopover in The Gulf. Imperial Britain took rule in the 1800s and in 1820, Britain signed the General Treaty of Peace with the Arab Gulf rulers. In 1850 the Al-Thani family took rule of Qatar, there have been seven ruling Sheikhs including the current Emir HH Hamad Bin Khalifa Bin Hamad Al-Thani.
Zubara is a fortress in the top North West of Qatar, which was once a two-walled castle where the Qataris traded pearls and protected the peninsula. There were many arguments over Zubara, as well as islands called Hawar to the west of Qatar, because the Bahrain people believed they should belong to them. The old fortress became ruined many years ago but the two countries still argued over possession. The International Court of Justice settled this in 2001.
The present Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, came to power in 1995 after taking control from his father. He believed at the time that it was better for Qatar because he wanted to have better relations with Europe and North and south America. In the late 1990s Sheikh Hamad made it easier for the press to write about things freely; he made good relationships with Iran and Israel. Since 2001 Qatar has allowed U.S. to use the Al Udeid air base for there army. The Emir has worked hard to make the nation’s government a democracy and he allows elections.The Emir approves women have the right to vote and hold office.The rule was agreed by the Emir in 2004 and came into force in 2005.