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Bedouin tribes had a formal political system with established laws.
Bedouin tribes had a formal political system with established laws.
False
The position of shaykh in a Bedouin tribe was hereditary.
The position of shaykh in a Bedouin tribe was hereditary.
False
Bedouin were highly literate, focusing on written language.
Bedouin were highly literate, focusing on written language.
False
Settled communities in Qatar were primarily located inland.
Settled communities in Qatar were primarily located inland.
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Settled community houses were typically made of mud and stone.
Settled community houses were typically made of mud and stone.
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Settled communities had very little social interaction with neighboring communities.
Settled communities had very little social interaction with neighboring communities.
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The settled communities had a degree of collective norms and legal organization.
The settled communities had a degree of collective norms and legal organization.
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Most men from settled Qatari communities left their villages during fishing season.
Most men from settled Qatari communities left their villages during fishing season.
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The push to establish an education system in Qatar was mainly driven by merchants, ship captains, and religious leaders.
The push to establish an education system in Qatar was mainly driven by merchants, ship captains, and religious leaders.
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Formal education in Qatar existed well before the discovery of oil.
Formal education in Qatar existed well before the discovery of oil.
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Kuttabs were always located within private residences.
Kuttabs were always located within private residences.
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Kuttabs focused on memorizing the Quran, religious matters, and advanced principles of mathematics and science.
Kuttabs focused on memorizing the Quran, religious matters, and advanced principles of mathematics and science.
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The kuttab of Amna al-Mahmud became the first modern school for girls in 1966.
The kuttab of Amna al-Mahmud became the first modern school for girls in 1966.
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Kuttab education was stable and consistent, as the funding and teachers were always available.
Kuttab education was stable and consistent, as the funding and teachers were always available.
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The Rushdiye School, an Ottoman school, was established in 1890.
The Rushdiye School, an Ottoman school, was established in 1890.
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Kuttabs provided the necessary craft and vocational skills needed for the Qatari society of the time.
Kuttabs provided the necessary craft and vocational skills needed for the Qatari society of the time.
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The Athariya school, the first formal school in Qatar was opened in 1923.
The Athariya school, the first formal school in Qatar was opened in 1923.
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Kuttabs only included boys and made no provisions for the education of girls in Qatar.
Kuttabs only included boys and made no provisions for the education of girls in Qatar.
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Shaykh Mohammad bin Mani’ moved to Medina and closed the Athariya school.
Shaykh Mohammad bin Mani’ moved to Medina and closed the Athariya school.
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Ms. Amna Mahmud al-Jayida was the first male teacher in Qatar, and she opened a Kuttab in 1956 for the boys.
Ms. Amna Mahmud al-Jayida was the first male teacher in Qatar, and she opened a Kuttab in 1956 for the boys.
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The economic decline with the rise of the pearl trade was related to the closing of the first formal schools.
The economic decline with the rise of the pearl trade was related to the closing of the first formal schools.
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A new school, called “al-Islah al-Hamadiya”, was founded in 1947 and named after Shaykh Hamad bin Abdullah.
A new school, called “al-Islah al-Hamadiya”, was founded in 1947 and named after Shaykh Hamad bin Abdullah.
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Qatari mejlises usually had a public entrance at the front of the house.
Qatari mejlises usually had a public entrance at the front of the house.
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Some Qatari mejlises held meetings, kept books and held formal evening gatherings.
Some Qatari mejlises held meetings, kept books and held formal evening gatherings.
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The mejlis served as a meeting place where merchants finalized loans for the pearl diving sector.
The mejlis served as a meeting place where merchants finalized loans for the pearl diving sector.
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Mejlises were primarily used for religious instruction, and were not used for trade.
Mejlises were primarily used for religious instruction, and were not used for trade.
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Qatar's geographical location led to an isolation from any other cultures, allowing its culture to remain uninfluenced by outside practices.
Qatar's geographical location led to an isolation from any other cultures, allowing its culture to remain uninfluenced by outside practices.
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The architecture in Qatar was unaffected by Persian culture and did not incorporate any design elements from there.
The architecture in Qatar was unaffected by Persian culture and did not incorporate any design elements from there.
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The use of the Batula and embroidered Sirwal for women in Qatar is an adoption from the Indian culture.
The use of the Batula and embroidered Sirwal for women in Qatar is an adoption from the Indian culture.
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Many Hindi words entered the local Qatari dialect specifically in the fields of medicine and sciences.
Many Hindi words entered the local Qatari dialect specifically in the fields of medicine and sciences.
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Prior to the oil boom, the Qatari judiciary primarily used codified legal statutes and parliamentary law.
Prior to the oil boom, the Qatari judiciary primarily used codified legal statutes and parliamentary law.
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Tribal cases and disputes were adjudicated by a Shar'i judge, and such judge rulings reflected their personality and interests.
Tribal cases and disputes were adjudicated by a Shar'i judge, and such judge rulings reflected their personality and interests.
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The pearling economy displaced people from coastal areas to the interior.
The pearling economy displaced people from coastal areas to the interior.
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Pearls brought Gulf society into world trade primarily during the early 20th century.
Pearls brought Gulf society into world trade primarily during the early 20th century.
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The pearl industry resulted in a decrease in significance for coastal villages.
The pearl industry resulted in a decrease in significance for coastal villages.
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The British authorities fully tolerated the slave trade in the Gulf.
The British authorities fully tolerated the slave trade in the Gulf.
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Slaves in the Gulf region were predominantly employed in agricultural work.
Slaves in the Gulf region were predominantly employed in agricultural work.
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Owning slaves was generally viewed as a sign of low social status in the region.
Owning slaves was generally viewed as a sign of low social status in the region.
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The British political agent never listened to complaints from slaves.
The British political agent never listened to complaints from slaves.
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The ruler of Qatar fully supported the British policy of immediate slave release without compensation.
The ruler of Qatar fully supported the British policy of immediate slave release without compensation.
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The increased work of oil companies resolved the slavery problem by employing former slaves and providing them with freedom documents.
The increased work of oil companies resolved the slavery problem by employing former slaves and providing them with freedom documents.
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Marine transport was the primary occupation for divers and sailors throughout the year, replacing pearl diving.
Marine transport was the primary occupation for divers and sailors throughout the year, replacing pearl diving.
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The ships involved in marine transport were small and fragile, not needing to carry heavy cargo.
The ships involved in marine transport were small and fragile, not needing to carry heavy cargo.
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One of the two main shipping routes from Doha passed through Basra, Bahrain, and Kuwait, where the ships stocked up on goods such as dates and textiles.
One of the two main shipping routes from Doha passed through Basra, Bahrain, and Kuwait, where the ships stocked up on goods such as dates and textiles.
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Ships traveling to India from Doha would trade dates for goods like spices, rope, and perfumes.
Ships traveling to India from Doha would trade dates for goods like spices, rope, and perfumes.
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Ships traveling to the East African coast via the Arabian peninsula usually returned at the end of the summer to work in pearl diving.
Ships traveling to the East African coast via the Arabian peninsula usually returned at the end of the summer to work in pearl diving.
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Pearl diving was a year-round economic activity, employing almost the entire work force in Qatar.
Pearl diving was a year-round economic activity, employing almost the entire work force in Qatar.
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In 1904, there were about 13,000 laborers in the pearling industry, with approximately $50$ men per ship.
In 1904, there were about 13,000 laborers in the pearling industry, with approximately $50$ men per ship.
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Study Notes
Social, Economic, and Cultural History of Qatar in the Pearling Age
- Qatar's history, before oil, revolved around pearling
- Qatari society was comprised of three communities: Bedouin nomads, semi-settled, and settled.
- Bedouin nomads lived in the desert, their lives were simple and constantly moving
- Semi-settled Bedouin moved between the desert and the coast, and were familiar with agriculture
- Settled communities lived on the coast.
- The Bedouin social system was centered around tribal customs with a shaykh as leader, and their lives were simple; their tents were easily folded and put up again, clothing was simple, and food was often available around them.
- Qatari settled communities' houses were made of mud and stone, organised into neighborhoods (fareej), but people in these neighbourhoods weren't always from the same tribe
- Settled communities developed customs and social/economic habits due to their relative stability and cooperation between individuals/families
- Settled communities also had a degree of legal organization and collective norms
- Women in Qatari society before oil had different roles based on social class
- Wealthy women supervised domestic work. They were isolated until adulthood and often not educated, although did learn to read the Quran to pray. Wealthy women had no authority relative to their husbands
- Bedouin women had more freedom and moved around more because of their multiple roles
- Pearl diving women had similar independence
- Education in Qatar, before oil, was primarily through kuttabs
- Kuttabs were small schools, usually located in mosques or private homes, focusing on memorizing the Quran, simplified religious matters, and basic arithmetic/reading/writing
- Kuttabs included girls and boys until age 10, and were run by female teachers in some cases
- Early formal schools in Qatar included the Rushdiye School, established in 1890 due to relations between Shaykh Jassim and the Ottomans. Formal schooling in this form ended after the Battle of Wajbah in 1893
- In 1913 a school named "Athariya" started in a room in Shaykh Abdullah bin Jassim's palace
- Some Qatari Kuttabs became famous for their high quality and graduates
- Shaykh Mohammad bin Mani' ran a well-known school until 1938, when it moved
- In 1947, the al-Islah al-Hamadiya school was launched
- The mejlis in Qatari houses served as a space for literature, historical/religious books, literary gatherings, and evening gatherings, among other uses
- Mejlis also had important economic/commercial roles, serving as meeting places for merchants, ship captains, and creditors to agree on funding pearl diving operations
- The judiciary in Qatar before oil relied on Islamic Sharia and tribal customs/traditions, dependent on the Shar'i judge and tribal shaykh
- Shar'i courts handled most matters except disputes relating to pearl trading and trade. Sharia courts focused on marriage, divorce, inheritance, murder, religion, Islamic matters and moral issues.
- Salifa courts judged pearling related disputes. Salifa courts were biased towards ship captains; they would arbitrate labor issues, monitor taxes, and manage pearl quality
The Economy Before Oil
- Before oil, Qatar's economy was largely based on a subsistence level economy
- It was largely based on barter transactions with limited exceptions
- The economy relied on pearls, herding/fishing, agriculture (limited), and customs fees on traded goods
- Pearl diving brought work to coastal inhabitants and relative population growth, but put many in a cycle of debt to ship captains.
- Pearling was the most important economic activity, however a seasonal craft
- Other activities included sea fishing, farming, and herding
Travel (Marine Transport)
- Some diving seasons, travelled on ships outside of diving season, transporting goods,
- Goods were traded to and from the ports like Basra, Bahrain, Al-Ahsa, Kuwait, Bandar Abbas, Qeshm, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras al-Khayma and Oman
- Some ships went to the East African coast and Aden
Pearl Diving
- Pearl diving was the most important economic activity before oil.
- The work force was mostly divers, seasonal craft, lasted slightly longer than four months
- Pearl diving involved about 13,000 laborers in 1904, with 30 men on each pearling ship; these ships were independent
The Dangers of Diving
- Divers faced indirect dangers such as eye/lung issues, skin diseases due to interactions between sea water and sun heat
- Immediate dangers included shark attacks and sting ray interactions which hampered productivity and safety
Reasons for the decline of the pearl trade
- The appearance of the cultured pearl in 1924
- Japanese company's efforts to develop cultured pearls
- Increase in global demand for cultured pearls due to lower price and quality
- First World War
- Great Depression
The Result of the pearl trade collapse
- Significant damage to pearl diving sector and the pearl trade industry as a whole.
- Significant societal impact; e.g., the effects on the diving profession and Bedouin tribes who relied on coastal connections and the pearl trade
- A need/increase in finding alternatives to the pearl trade as a basis for economic life
- Oil was an agent for change that developed economic prosperity and lifted societies
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Description
Explore the fascinating journey of education in Qatar, focusing on the formal systems established within settled communities and the role of kuttabs. Discover how merchants, ship captains, and religious leaders pushed for educational reform long before the oil boom. This quiz delves into the literacy, laws, and social structures of Bedouin tribes and settled communities.
