تاريخ الكويت قبل النفط

• These notes summarize the history of Kuwait, its relations with other countries, and its economic activities before the discovery of oil.

Western Travelers

• Karsten Niebuhr, a Danish explorer, was the first European traveler to visit Kuwait in 1765, noting it as a bustling trading town.
• Between 1815 and 1866, three European travelers visited Kuwait: Buckingham (1816), Stocqueler (1831), and Billy.

Buckingham's Writings

• Buckingham's writings are significant because they indicated Kuwait's independence as an emirate from an early time.
• Buckingham's writings also discussed Kuwait's trade and its islands, particularly Failaka.

Stocqueler's Writings

• Stocqueler's description of Kuwait was more detailed and comprehensive than Buckingham’s.
• Stocqueler focused on Kuwait's commercial activity and described the dwellings, people, and general life.

Billy's Reports

• Billy's official reports to British Bombay covered tribes, trade, sources of wealth, and a description of Kuwait City.
• Billy noted Kuwait was a small emirate and a very healthy city, with rare eye diseases and smallpox noting that syphilis was imported from Bombay and rheumatism was common in winter.
• Billy estimated Kuwait's sailors at 4,000 and Bedouin fighters at 6,000.
• In his 1866 report, Billy mentioned spending a week in Jahra, an old city with ruins and relics visiting Kuwait twice in 1863 and 1865.

Kuwait's Name

• Colonel Lewis Billy, the British political resident, commented on the origin of Kuwait's names.
• Billy noted that the old name "Al-Qurain" came from the resemblance between Kuwait Bay and a horn.
• Billy stated that the current name Kuwait is 100 years old, dating back to his 1866 trip and comes from "Al-Kout," meaning fortress.

Occupation of Mongar Sar Fortress

• The Kuwaitis occupied a fortress called Mongar Sar, located on the Zubair River.
• The Kuwaitis controlled the entrances to the Shatt al-Arab waterway, faced Turkish attacks, and fortified themselves.

Overland Trade

• Kuwait traded overland with Bedouins who brought horses and wool in winter and spring to exchange for milk, rice, etc.
• Kuwait's maritime trade was extensive, reaching India and the coasts of the Arabian Peninsula.

Billy's Conclusions

• Kuwait was attacked by the Iraqi Ottoman Turks, indicating it was not truly a dependency of the Ottoman Empire.
• Kuwait’s trade (land and sea) had prospered since early times.
• It was necessary to explore the geological prospects of a northern river in current-day Kuwait.

British-Kuwaiti Relations

• British-Kuwaiti relations began after the Persian siege of Basra between 1776 and 1779.
• Britain moved its commercial agency to Kuwait, suggesting Kuwait was not under Ottoman rule.

Reasons for Choosing Kuwait

• Kuwait served as a center for the East India Company’s messages during Persia’s occupation of Basra.
• Agency costs were lower in Kuwait than in Basra.
• The Kuwaiti ruler, Abdullah Al-Sabah, had good relations with the English.
• Kuwait’s port was suitable for ships to anchor.

Problems with Kuwait

• The British discovered that choosing Kuwait was not always effective due to Wahhabi attacks.
• The presence of the agency in Kuwait was temporary, and it returned to Basra after the Persian occupation ended.
• The Kuwaitis defended their emirate and remained outside the control of the Wahhabis and the Ottoman Empire.

British Policy in the Arabian Gulf

• British policy in the Arabian Gulf was established during the Napoleonic period (1798-1810).
• At this time, the French threat to the route to India became clear.
• The two main aspects of the policy were: warfare against French ships on the high seas along the route to India, and political warfare against the French.
• The British contracted with the Arabian Gulf emirates and local powers beginning with Oman to counter French communications.

19th Century Relations

• British-Kuwaiti relations were normal and improving during the first three decades of the 19th century marked by:
  • Kuwaiti ships contributing to the transport and distribution of goods.
  • British representatives moving to Kuwait.
  • The commercial agency moving back to Kuwait from Basra in 1821.
• Kuwait transported supplies for the Egyptian army of Muhammad Ali in Al-Ahsa and Najd.
• Western travelers and British politicians, including Billy in his 1863 trip, mentioned Kuwait describing:
  • Friendly relations between Kuwait and Britain.
  • Drawing Britain’s attention to Kuwait’s importance.
  • Noting that Ottoman-Kuwaiti relations were nominal and not actual.

Development of Relations

• Kuwaiti-British relations developed for political, economic, and strategic reasons:
  • Economically, Kuwait’s location at the head of the Arabian Gulf was crucial for trade to India.
  • Politically, Britain sought control of the Arabian Gulf region, facing international and regional competition.
  • Britain formed close ties with Kuwait due to its importance in countering the Ottoman Empire.
• Economic and political relations developed, and several British travelers and politicians visited Kuwait.
• Britain became increasingly active in Kuwait, marked by:
  • Consular, postal, political, and economic cooperation until the 1899 agreement between Kuwait and Britain.

The 1899 Agreement

• The 1899 agreement was a British-Kuwaiti measure against Ottoman pressure on Kuwait.
• The agreement stipulated that Kuwait would be under British protection and not have relations without British knowledge.
• The agreement was met with Turkish and German reactions because:
  • It came at a time when German and Ottoman commercial and political activity was increasing in the Gulf region.

German Competition

• As the 20th century began, German-British competition escalated in the Ottoman Empire.
• The German Emperor visited Turkey, leading to the idea of building a railway between the two countries
• The proposed railway would end in northern Kuwait but Kuwait refused the railway because:
  • Kuwait was under British control per the agreement.
  • Kuwait did not want relations with the Ottoman Empire.
• Other factors made Kuwait more important than other ports in trade.
  • Kuwait was an independent emirate with a free passage to the sea.
  • Arabs disliked the Turks and avoided their routes while Kuwait allowed passage without issues.
  • Kuwait had an open market and served not only as a hub for trade but also a starting point for caravans.

Lord Curzon’s Visit

• After the German Emperor’s visit to the Ottoman Empire to establish the Berlin-Istanbul-Baghdad-Kazema railway, Lord Curzon, the British Viceroy of India, visited Kuwait to strengthen relations.
• Curzon appointed the first British political agent in Kuwait and opened a post office in Kuwait to facilitate trade with Kuwait.
• In 1904, Britain protected the region.

1913 Events

• Two significant events occurred in 1913:
  • Sir Percy Cox wrote to Sheikh Mubarak about oil exploration, and he agreed.
  • The British-Ottoman agreement of 1913 defined Kuwait’s borders.
• The 1913 agreement was mentioned in the 1913 British-Ottoman agreement and defined the borders accordingly.
• However, the border line was modified in the 1922 Uqair Agreement regarding Kuwait’s southern borders, and Kuwait lost large areas.
• After the First World War, the Uqair Agreement was concluded, creating a neutral zone for the first time.

Indian-Kuwaiti Relations

• The modern era saw the establishment of the British East India Company, rivaling the Portuguese, Dutch, and French in India and the Arabian Gulf.
• Trade relations between India and the Arabian Gulf region were old and active in mutual import and export within the framework permitted by Britain and within its interests, especially after the occupation of Aden and India.
• Trade activity between India and the Arabian Gulf was subject to ups and downs due to political events, especially during the two world wars.
• After the independence of the countries of the Indian subcontinent, the nature of relations between them and the Gulf region changed.
• Smuggling trade between Kuwait and India was thriving to bypass customs laws and taxes on prohibited items.
• Migration from the Indian subcontinent is an important feature of Kuwaiti-Indian relations, especially after India’s independence and the start of oil exports.
• Britain sought to regulate the situation of Indian immigrants to Kuwait and the Arabian Gulf to maintain political stability.
• Any disturbance would affect British interests in the region.

Kuwaiti-Ottoman Relations

• Challenges facing Kuwait in the first half of the 19th century were:
  • The Ottoman State
  • Muhammad Ali’s activity in the Arabian Peninsula.
  • The Saudi State and the Wahhabi movement.
• Muhammad Ali’s desire to control Iraq prompted his army to move towards Najd and Al-Ahsa.
• Muhammad Ali became interested in the Arabian Gulf region and its ports, needing to provision his army with ammunition and supplies.
• Kuwait had friendly relations with the Egyptians exchanging benefit and retaining its independence.
• Due to the neighborhood between Iraq and Kuwait, relations went through periods of tension and calm due to:
  • Tribal movements on the borders.
  • Smuggling trade.
  • Mutual family migration between Kuwait and Iraq.
  • Kuwaiti properties and cultivated lands in Basra.
• The Ottoman State began to create problems for Kuwait during the rule of Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah (partly due to German instigation).
• The Ottoman State began its moves towards the Arabian Gulf region when the European states began to take interest in the region.
• The Ottoman State encouraged the Emir of Hail, Abdul Aziz bin Rashid, to threaten Kuwait.
• Sheikh Mubarak decided to attack him, resulting in the Battle of Al-Suraif in 1901 motivating Sheikh Mubarak to:
  • Form a regional force that the tribes would fear.
  • Support the ambition of Abdul Aziz Al Saud to restore Najd.
  • Protect land trade routes between Najd and Kuwait and safeguard pilgrimage routes.
• Sheikh Mubarak was defeated at the Battle of Al-Suraif.
• Britain feared that someone would take action and only prevented Sheikh Mubarak from any move without its approval.
• Abdul Aziz bin Rashid decided to attack Kuwait after Al-Suraif, and the Ottoman State supported him.
• Britain sided with Kuwait, and bin Rashid withdrew.
• One of the problems that arose between Kuwait and the Ottoman State was the issue of Kuwait’s borders and the British-Ottoman Agreement of 1913.
• The border issue between Iraq and Kuwait has gone through several stages since 1913:
  • When Ottoman rule was in place before the outbreak of the First World War.
  • The Uqair Agreement in 1922 - after the independence of Iraq in 1932.
  • After the discovery of Kuwaiti oil, coinciding with the reign of King Ghazi of Iraq.
  • After the independence of Kuwait in 1961 - in 1963.

Other European Forces

• Concerning the position of other European powers regarding Kuwait at the beginning of the 20th century:
  • The Arabian Gulf region was of great importance to European countries at the beginning of the 20th century.
  • This was due to its:
    • Strategic location
    • Commercial activity
    • Potential existence of oil.

France

• France began its connection with the Arabian Gulf region through its colonies in Africa, especially Mauritius and Bourbon.
• Oman was the first and most frequent Arabian Gulf country to deal with France and exchange commerce with its colonies.
• When the war between England and France (the Seven Years' War) ended, relations between Oman and France became closer.
• After the French Revolution, France worked to change its policy towards the Gulf and establish a consulate in Oman as well as strengthen its ties with Oman and Persia.
• The French activity was concentrated in Oman and the Horn of Africa and did not reach Kuwait.
• In 1904, Britain and France entered into an agreement guaranteeing the alliance of the two countries to face external aggression and distribute interests and roles.

Russia

• Russia was one of the international powers that wanted to gain a foothold in the Arabian Gulf region after its economic penetration into Persia after the Treaty of Berlin in 1878 AD.
• Russia had commercial privileges in Persia and was granted the privilege of extending a railway in it and establishing a bank.
• Russia also was granted an agreement on organizing customs in 1900 AD to counter British trade that reaches Persia via the Gulf.
• Russia tried to enter into a political agreement with the Sultan of Muscat and sent a ship to Muscat but the Sultan of Oman refused due to his relationship with Britain.
• Political and commercial rivalries between Britain and other European powers went through two phases:
  • British monopoly in the 19th century AD.
  • Breaking the monopoly at the beginning of the 20th century AD.
• One of the Russian traders, Count Kaye Sent, obtained a railway concession from the Mediterranean to Kuwait in the late 19th century.

Germany

• Germany began its activities in international affairs after the emergence of Bismarck, who unified Germany in 1870 AD.
• The Ottoman-German relations began with Germany organizing the Ottoman army in 1889 AD, after which a secret alliance occurred between the two countries.
• Germany hoped to move into the Arabian Gulf region so it agreed with the Ottoman state, which wanted to improve its economic conditions in 1896 AD, to extend the Berlin-Baghdad-Kazemh railway.
• Germany's activity began to concern Britain, especially after the agreement on the railway project, and that was one of the motives for the 1899 AD agreement with Kuwait. (Benefit for both parties)
• The German ambassador in Istanbul visited Kuwait and met with Sheikh Mubarak to persuade him to agree to the project, but Sheikh Mubarak refused and informed Britain.

Kuwait Between the Two World Wars

• From the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 AD until Sheikh Ahmed Al-Jaber assumed power in 1921 AD, the region witnessed important developments, including:
  • The fall of the Ottoman Empire
  • Abdul Aziz Al Saud succeeding in returning his family to power in the third Saudi state and his attempts to expand his state with Kuwait's assistance.
  • Deterioration of Kuwait's relationship with Najd during the era of Sheikh Salem.
• The Ikhwan's aggression against Kuwait (the Battle of Jahra in 1920)
• The twenties and thirties of the twentieth century witnessed internal social, political and economic developments and regional and international developments.
• Regional and international developments:
  • Post-World War I settlements.
  • The discovery of oil in the region and competition for it between British and American companies.
  • The Al-Massabla problem between Kuwait and Najd (the Saudi economic blockade of Kuwait)
  • The establishment of a new monarchy in Iraq in 1921 AD.
• Local developments (Kuwait's revenue witnessed social, political, and economic developments):
  • The beginning of the modern formal education system in Kuwait.
  • The elite demanding the development of administration and participation in government (The Shura Council - The Legislative Council)
  • The establishment of the Kuwait Oil Company KOC in 1934 AD.
  • The growth of political awareness in Kuwait in the thirties.
  • The development of education in the thirties (the mission of Palestinian teachers 1936 AD - educational missions to abroad - the beginning of women's education)

The Borders Between Kuwait With Saudi Arabia and Iraq

• When World War I ended, the British sought to define the borders between Iraq, Najd and Kuwait after the Sykes-Picot Agreement, the 1919 Peace Conference, and the emergence of oil.
• Al-Oqair Conference was held in 1922, attended by Percy Cox, the representative in Iraq, and Mr. Moore, the British resident in Kuwait, Sultan of Najd and Hejaz, Abdul Aziz bin Saud.
• The difficulty in the new demarcation of the borders is that Britain was influential in the conference, and the oil in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain was its preoccupation.
• Under the 1913 agreement, the Kuwaiti borders reached Jabal Manifah in the south of Kuwait.
• Sheikh Ahmed Al-Jaber was difficult in oil negotiations with the companies.
• He wanted more concessions to develop his country.
• Kuwaiti oil began to be exported in 1946.
• One of the most important features of the forties was the construction of Al-Amiri Hospital, the first major government hospital in Kuwait.
• In 1937, King Ghazi (Iraqi) demanded that Kuwait be annexed to Iraq for the first time, and he was not recognized by the previous border agreements.
• However, for many reasons, especially Iraq and Britain, that demand ended, and King Ghazi was killed in an accident.
• After the death of Ahmed Al-Jaber, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem took over the government, and he was the head of the Legislative Council in 1938, and Kuwait
• Witnessed and developed in an era.
• The political transformation did not occur until after independence in 1961, and the constitutional life began since the issuance of the 1962 constitution.
• After the independence of Kuwait, Iraq announced on behalf of Abdul Karim Qassem that Kuwait was part of Iraq and that it was under Iraq during the Ottoman era.
• A crisis occurred and ended with Arab and international support for Kuwait.
• Kuwait opened up a field for the work of expatriates, as it hosted 400,000 Palestinians for 40 years, from the 1948 tragedy until the Iraqi invasion in 1990.

The Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait 1990 AD

• The most dangerous historical stage that Kuwait has gone through when it was occupied by a Muslim Arab sibling and neighbour, Iraq.
• The Iraqi occupation of Kuwait came under internal Iraqi circumstances and regional and international circumstances:
  • An economic, social and political crisis that Iraq is going through.
  • The Iraqi regime continued to create crises with its neighbours after the war.
  • The bad Arab conditions after the Lebanese civil war.
  • The failure of negotiations with Israel
  • The continued concern of the region about the Iranian regime.
  • The collapse of the Soviet Union.
• The crime of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait was a crime in all political, religious and moral standards, no matter what its justifications were.
• There was Arab, Islamic and international condemnation of this crime.
• After the international community failed to convince Iraq peacefully to withdraw from Kuwait, preparations began to expel it by force (Operation Desert Storm).
• A international coalition was formed to liberate Kuwait and restore its legitimacy, consisting of 34 foreign, Islamic and Arab countries, and the war against aggression took place in 1991.
• The occupation did not last more than 7 months, and Kuwait was liberated, and Iraq paid a heavy price.

Trade

• The driving for Kuwait's economics before oil
• Kuwait depended on maritime trade before oil was discovered.
• Maritime trade is based on shipping and pearl diving.
• The process of maritime trade involves ships, goods, and workers on board.
• Maritime trade is associated with two distinct phenomena:
  • Maritime trade flourishes in times of crisis.
  • Trade through smuggling.

Features of Trade

• Despite its financial benefits, maritime trade was hard and fraught with difficulties and dangers, especially smuggling.
• Europeans were keen to have a share of maritime trade, eventually becoming major participants.

Imports and Exports

• Kuwaitis imported cloth, wood, rice, tea, sugar, and western goods from India.
• Plant coal, hides, sheep, goats and grains came from southern Iran.
• Dates were imported from Al-Ahsa, Bahrain and southern Iraq in addition to feed coming from Iraq.
• Pearl diving and trade was the main source of wealth in Kuwait and allowed merchants to trade and finance people in Kuwait.
• The maritime trade of Kuwait flourished and fulfilled the role of providing supplies as a result of the outbreak of the First World War and the suspension of European commercial ships.

Decline and Factors

• Kuwait's maritime trade declined since the twenties for two reasons:
  • The global economic crisis (1929-1933). (2).
  • The Al-Massabla problem between Kuwait and Najd.
• Kuwait was unique due to trading water from the Shatt al-Arab River on medium-sized ships (10-15 tons).
• There are types of maritime trade carried out by Kuwait which include: Import, Trade and re-smuggling trade.
• Trade on water was looked as being important to the Kuwaiti economy.

Caravans

• Trade caravans also involved the migration of pearl traders, and Sheikh Mubarak needed them.
• The number of camels, mules, escorts, and guards were important