Historical Thinking and History of the UAE, FWS205

Historical Thinking and History of the UAE FWS205 UAE & GCC Society August 2024  To develop an understanding of historical thinking skills and of the role played by historians in reconstructing the past To analyze the development of the UAE from its past to the strong state it is today...

Historical Thinking and History of the UAE FWS205 UAE & GCC Society August 2024  To develop an understanding of historical thinking skills and of the role played by historians in reconstructing the past To analyze the development of the UAE from its past to the strong state it is today To demonstrate an understanding of the key phases of UAE history from the 1800s to today To trace the political, social and cultural developments in UAE society  Writing of History: What History is not! Perspectives and Different Kinds of Histories Interpretations Primary and Secondary Why History Should Matter https://www.khanacademy Sources.org/humanities/us-history /precontact-and-early-colo nial-era/how-to-think-like-a -historian/v/thinking-like-a -historian https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSJLmWnxrPg&t=3s 5 Key Skills Multiple Looking at Understanding Claim-Evidence Accounts and Primary Sourcing Historical Connection Perspectives Documents Context “Those who do not know and appreciate their past will never fully understand where they stand today.” 7 The Birth of a Nation What factors allowed the country to become successful?  Brainstorm the major changes that took place in this area between 1850 and today Categorize these changes: political, economic, cultural, social Rank the top 10 changes Think about why these changes took place. Microsoft Word 97 - 2003 Document  Activity: Transformations Brainstorm the major changes that took place in this area between 1850 and today Discovery of Oil Vision of Leaders Globalization  Arab and Islamic Cultural and historical roots Foundations Beginning in 15th Century Portuguese Colonization Ends in end of 16th/early 17th Century 17th Century Dutch Colonization Started in Arabian Gulf and extended to Indian Ocean Treaties signed British Phase and Rise of Withdrawal from the region the Trucial States Role of Shaykh Zayed The Establishment of the Independence from Britain UAE Portuguese Colonization  Initially, trade in Arabian Gulf and Indian Ocean controlled by Arab traders; peaceful trading Arrival of the Portuguese; first European colonizing power Opening of sea route to India Portuguese waged war at sea and on land Captured most profitable ports on Eastern coast of Africa and India Trade: slaves, spices  Since 1507, controlled several key coastal towns in the Gulf Where trading had been peaceful, now it became a source of war Economic decline of coastal towns of Emirates and Oman: people left and retired to the interior 17th Century: Portuguese influence started fading because of resistance by Arab leaders, especially Portuguese Fort in Fujairah, in Oman oldest fort in UAE Shah Abbas I of Persia joined with British forces to remove Portuguese from Hormuz in 1622. Both actions ended Portuguese control in Arabian Gulf and Indian Ocean and marked the beginning of Dutch and British eras in the Arabian Gulf  By 17th century: Dutch were dominant naval power in the Indian Ocean and Arabian Gulf British and Dutch became rivals Bandar Abbas: central location for French, British and Dutch activities; Dutch set up Dutch East India Company: silks and spices Initially, they were only in Arabian Gulf, eventually expanded to Indian Ocean.  Led to Golden Age in the Netherlands By 1750s, decline of Dutch power because of on-off war among and between the Dutch, British and French Dutch sources contain much rich information about the societies, tribes and rulers of various Arab tribes they encountered Golden Age in the Descriptions of their voyages contain Netherlands references to and maps of many modern cities of the UAE and Oman: Dibba, Khasab, Khorfakkan, Kalba, etc.  Everyday life in the trucial states The Trucial States Known as Coast of Oman until 1950s After Truce Agreement with British in 1853, known as “Trucial Coast” or “Trucial State” Largest states: RAK, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi Inhabited by fisherman, pearl divers, seafarers and their families Some agriculture in places: RAK, Fujairah and oases in Liwa and Al Ain  Abu Dhabi (1820 – 1971) Ajman (1820 – 1971) Dubai (1820 – 1971) Sharjah (1820 – 1971) Umm al-Quwain (1820 – 1971) Ras al-Khaimah (1822 – 1972) Dibba (1871 – 1951) Hamriyah (1875 – 1922) The sheikdoms permanently allied themselves with Britain by the Perpetual Maritime Truce Fujairah (1902 – 1971) of 1853 Kalba (1903 – 1952) Heera (1915 – 1942)  Life in the Trucial States Scarcity of food - had to be imported from Basra , Iraq, Bahrain Pearls traded for necessities - India and East Africa Settlement on Persian coat and the island in between till Abu Dhabi were controlled by the Qawasim of RAK  Pearling https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JStUtFDhtZc Pearling in UAE History Once: major source of income Diving season: from April to September During these months, water was warm enough for to dive safely.  Diving Went Formonths to sea for Pearls at a time Would return only in case of war or attack Dangerous: eye infections, cramping, skin diseases, even death Divers would eat once a day Had to work every day Payment at seasons’ end after pearls were sold Pearling - Not An Easy Task Diving under water using only traditional tools was hard Only strongest and fittest could handle this task. Divers expected to tie small stone to the bottom of their foot in order to sink to the bottom of the seabed, and collect as many oysters as they could before their breath ran out. Often, divers drowned or were attacked by sharks. End of the Pearling Industry: The discovery of oil Japanese discovery of artificial pearls Onset of World War 2  Bedouin Hospitality Normal for caravans travelling between Abu Dhabi and Al Ain to come up on one or more Bedouin encampments along the way - An offer of coffee means that they are welcomed and from that moment they will be the responsibility of the Bedouins until the caravan was out of sight The British in the UAE Reading and Activities: 1. Timeline 2. Reading Response  Unwanted Domination British presence in Gulf began with the East India Company; helped Shah Abbas of Persia to expel the Portuguese from Hormuz in 1622 War between England and France: French navy destroyed the English post in 1759, forcing them to relocate British began searching for new markets and faster routes to trading centres in Europe Sheikhs, Tribes and Sheikhdoms Tribes: basis of social organization: identity; loyalty to tribe; affiliation to a ruler The ruling Sheikh was the all-powerful governor of his people: disputes, impose fines, imprisonment, treasury, declare war, taxes and tariffs, sign agreement etc. The tribal system which existed in Gulf for centuries, survived in the Trucial states until 1960s Bani Yas During the 18th century, 2 key tribal federations emerged: Bani Yas and Qawasim Bani Yas: federation comprising several tribes - led by Al Falah family. Sheikh Shakhbut moved the base of Bani Yas to Abu Dhabi in 1793. Extended his authority to the Al Ain oasis later.  Qawasim controlled the northern emirates until 1800s Qawasim’s strength was in their trading activities and their maritime strength Challenged the British: attacked East India company ships in the Gulf but 1819 British destroyed the entire Qawasim fleet Destruction of the fleet was the beginning of the end of the Qawasim era in the region British presence which was only commercial became political in the region  Goal of Treaty with the British: to keep sea lanes free and clear for British vessels This increased competition for livelihood: restricted abilities of the local tradesmen to conduct business Also, decreased possibility of other powers gaining a foothold in the region  Aim: to make peace with every sheikh in northern emirates Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr (supreme sheikh of Qawasim) signed; insisted Sheikh of Ajman and UQ (previously under his authority) to sign but they did not Led to split: sheikhdoms of Ajman and UQ became independent of RAK. A decade later (1833): a similar split within the Bani Yas. Al Bu Falah tribe, headed by the Nahyan family. Al Bu Falasah tribe, headed by the Al Maktoum family seceded from Abu Dhabi in 1833 to become independent in Dubai.  Perfect maritime truce’ in operation: rulers in favor; wanted peace at sea Benefits to sheikhdoms: increase in wealth & population (uninterrupted pearling) British policy to be neutral in inland affairs (no wish for military operations inland) The Treaty of Peace in Perpetuity, 1853  The Rise of Abu Dhabi 1855: Shaikh Zayed b. Khalifa becomes ruler, until 1909 Alliance with Muscat (many visits); good relations with British 1880’s: Abu Dhabi strongest political & military power on Coast; territory from Odaid to Buraimi 14. Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan  41 Al Hosn in 1904  Extension of his sphere of influence by diplomacy & military action (esp Buraimi) Prosperity: largest fleet (410) on Arabian side of Gulf & largest income; 2 suqs in town (Indian & Persian traders) Strong internal control: no challenge to authority Peaceful succession on his death  Two dominant regional powers: Persia and the Ottomans. French, Russians and Germans entered the field for the first time.- potential threat to British. 1892: Trucial States sign an exclusive treaty with Britain (not to enter into any agreement with anyone but the British, not to allow any foreign power to establish embassy, not to allow any power to occupy Trucial States) THE DISCOVERY OF OIL DISCOVERY OF OIL  During World War 2, 80% of British oil supplies came from U.S.A British wanted to end reliance on U.S.A; need for British control over oilfields of Persia & Iraq Exclusive right of British government to nominate concession  THE ROAD TO INDEPENDENCE First oil concessions granted in 1939 by Sheikh Shakhbut, oil not discovered until 1954 Initially, oil money had negligible impact: only few lowrise concrete buildings were built; first paved road completed in 1961 Shaikh Shakhbut took cautious approach of preserving the wealth rather than using it for development On the other hand, Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahayan, saw the potential of transforming Abu Dhabi.  The ruling Al Nahayan family decided that Sheikh Zayed should replace his brother as Ruler and carry out his vision of developing the country. Exports from Abu Dhabi began in 1962, turning the poorest of the emirates into the richest. Dubai concentrated on building its reputation as the region's busiest trading post. Then, in the mid 1960's, Dubai found oil of its own. On August 6, 1966, with the assistance of the British, Sheikh Zayed became the new ruler.  1968: Britain announces intention to withdraw from the Gulf in 1971 Originally: single state consisting of Bahrain, Qatar and the Trucial Coast states. As a result of negotiations, Bahrain and Qatar became independent. July 1971, six of the Trucial States (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Umm al- Qaiwain, Ajman and Fujairah) agreed on a Federal Constitution for achieving independence as the United Arab Emirates. The UAE became independent on 2 December 1971; Ras Al Khaimah, joined the union in February 1972. Sheikh Zayed assumed office as the first President of the United Arab Emirates.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3mr-YeTEzY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tYafYzwGf4 50 51  Today, the UAE is a major international tourist and business center as well as one of the most modern, stable and safe countries in the world. It has one of the highest GDP per capita in the world at nearly (7th richest country : IMF 2015) :67,617. The UAE has approximately 10% of the world's total known oil reserves, 90% in Abu Dhabi and about 10% in Dubai. The UAE has begun to diversify its economy: the oil sector contributes 30% of the country's GDP. Thanks to the foresight of the UAE leaders, trade, tourism, real estate and construction are large contributors, most notably in Dubai. Imagine, you were a historian in 2100, and your job is to write the history of youth in the UAE in 2015-2020. Think through the following: 1. What are the multiple perspectives you can use to reconstruct this history? 2. What sources will you use (primary/secondary)? Why should you use different sources? 3. What will help you to understand the context of this period (economic, political, social, cultural)? 4. Develop one theory about the youth of this time – how will you corroborate (claim-evidence connection) it? Microsoft Word 97 - 2003 Document