Manama
The northern coastline of Bahrain holds approximately 100,000 burial mounds dating back to the Dilmun civilization around 3000 BC. These ancient structures serve as the primary evidence of human settlement in the region during the Bronze Age. A captain serving under Alexander the Great confirmed the existence of a vast rural population living across these areas. Despite the scale of the burials, heavy urbanization did not occur during this era. Most people lived in scattered rural communities numbering only several thousand individuals. A sophisticated system of aqueducts facilitated agriculture and horticulture throughout the northern part of the island. The commercial network established by Dilmun thrived for nearly two millennia before Assyrian forces took control in 700 BC.
In 1521, the Portuguese Empire conquered Bahrain and constructed the Bahrain Fort on the outskirts of Manama to consolidate their hold. This fortification remained standing until the Safavid Persians expelled the Portuguese in 1602. Under Persian rule, the nearby town of Bilad Al Qadeem became the provincial capital while Manama was sidelined. The Safavids appointed governors from Isfahan courts who carefully vetted candidates for religious positions. Pearling exports generated an annual income of 600,000 ducats collected by roughly 2,000 pearling dhows. Pedro Teixeira, a Portuguese traveler, documented extensive cultivation of barley and wheat in the region. Nader Shah later built a fort on the southern outskirts of Manama sometime after 1736.
The introduction of Japanese cultured pearls into the world market caused the country's pearling economy to collapse in 1927. Between 1929 and 1931, pearling entrepreneurs lost more than two-thirds of their income due to this shift. The Great Depression further aggravated financial struggles for leading businessmen and pearl divers. In 1907, the industry included 917 boats providing employment for up to 18,000 people. Earnings from pearling reached £1.5 million annually before the economic downturn. Oil discovery in 1932 and subsequent production starting in 1934 shifted the national economy toward petroleum. Bankrupt divers were gradually employed in the oil sector during the 1930s until the pearling industry disappeared entirely.
A British political residency was constructed in 1900 which solidified Britain's position in Manama. Charles Belgrave arrived in 1926 as a financial advisor appointed by the Colonial Office to manage administration. He organized the State Police and oversaw both Finance and Land departments within the government. A municipal government was established in Manama in 1919 while civil courts opened for the first time in 1923. Custom duties became the primary source of revenue for the state treasury after being reorganized in 1923. Trading recovered fully by 1873 with earnings from pearl exports increasing sevenfold between that year and 1900. The Perpetual Truce of Peace and Friendship signed in 1861 placed Britain in charge of defending Bahrain.
Anti-British unrest broke out in Manama following the Suez Crisis in 1956 when the National Union Committee organized demonstrations. Buildings belonging to Europeans were set ablaze including the main Catholic church and petrol stations. Demonstrations held before the British political residency called for the dismissal of Charles Belgrave who left the country the following year. Another uprising erupted in March 1965 led primarily by students aspiring for independence rather than Arab nationalists. The British announced their withdrawal from Bahrain by 1971 leading to the nation's independence. The newly independent State of Bahrain designated Manama as its capital city in that same year.
Post-independence Manama experienced rapid urbanization swallowing neighboring villages into a single urbanized area. New neighborhoods such as Adliya and Salmaniya emerged during this construction boom. By 1981, foreigners outnumbered Bahrainis two-to-one due to large numbers migrating from the Indian subcontinent. Financial institutions in the Diplomatic Area district numbered 187 by 1986 helping diversify the economy beyond oil. Scarcity of suitable land led to extensive land reclamation projects extending the coastline. A causeway stretching over several kilometers connects Manama with Muharraq Island while another bridge joins Sitra to the main island. Road networks expanded rapidly with vehicle populations growing from 395 cars in 1944 to 18,372 by 1970.
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Common questions
When was Manama designated as the capital of Bahrain?
The State of Bahrain designated Manama as its capital city in 1971 following independence. This designation occurred in the same year that Britain announced their withdrawal from the nation.
What evidence exists for human settlement in northern Bahrain during the Bronze Age?
Approximately 100,000 burial mounds dating back to the Dilmun civilization around 3000 BC serve as primary evidence. These ancient structures confirm a vast rural population living across the region despite heavy urbanization not occurring at that time.
How did the Portuguese Empire influence the development of Manama in the 16th century?
The Portuguese Empire conquered Bahrain in 1521 and constructed the Bahrain Fort on the outskirts of Manama to consolidate their hold. This fortification remained standing until the Safavid Persians expelled the Portuguese in 1602.
Why did the pearling economy collapse in Manama during the early 20th century?
The introduction of Japanese cultured pearls into the world market caused the country's pearling economy to collapse in 1927. Between 1929 and 1931, pearling entrepreneurs lost more than two-thirds of their income due to this shift.
When was oil discovered in Bahrain and how did it change the national economy?
Oil discovery occurred in 1932 with subsequent production starting in 1934 shifting the national economy toward petroleum. Bankrupt divers were gradually employed in the oil sector during the 1930s until the pearling industry disappeared entirely.