UAE Studies Week 1 - Session 1 Fall 2024 PDF

SOCL-103: UAE Studies Week 1 – Session 1 History of the UAE Dr. Sara Almarzooqi  Table of Contents 1. Course Introduction 2. Week 1 – Learning Objectives 3. What is Society? 4. The UAE – An Introduction 5. History of the UAE 6. The Union 7. Closing Qui...

SOCL-103: UAE Studies Week 1 – Session 1 History of the UAE Dr. Sara Almarzooqi  Table of Contents 1. Course Introduction 2. Week 1 – Learning Objectives 3. What is Society? 4. The UAE – An Introduction 5. History of the UAE 6. The Union 7. Closing Quiz  Course Introduction  This Course Aims to: Introduce the UAE’s rich history, inherited traditions, and deep- rooted values. Discuss essential economic and social aspects, as well as the significant role of UAE leaders in the empowerment of Emirati women. Highlight UAE policies and future aspirations. Strategies Delivery Strategy Text Book Assessment Strategy For more information, please see the Syllabus on the VLE Week 1: Learning Objectives Learning Objectives – Session 1 Recognize Identify the Recognize Identify the forms of the components some features unity road human of the social of the ancient map of the society. structure of and Islamic UAE. the history of the Humanitarian UAE people. Community. Learning Objectives – Session 2 Verify the conduct Verify the conduct Discussion forum of events of events resulting on the VLE: Talk resulting from in the formation of about the European Portuguese and the UAE. interest in the British colonialism Arabian Peninsula. What is Society?  What is Society? Religion Individu als Beliefs Culture  What is Society? An organized group of persons associated together for religious, benevolent, cultural, scientific, political, patriotic, or other purposes. (1) Sociologists define society as “the people who interact in such a way as to share a common culture … whereas culture consists of “the beliefs, behaviors, objects, and other characteristics common to the members of a particular group or society.”(2) “The term society can also have a geographic meaning and refer to people who share a common culture in a particular location.” (2) What are the Conditions of a Society? 1. The existence of a group of people (Population). 2. Geographic Location. 3. Values, Customs, and Traditions they are Characterized by. 4. A Social system approved for them. 5. The culture of the society. The UAE – An Introduction  What Do You Know About the UAE? Iran Gulf of Oman Saudi Arabia Oman Image source (3)  What Do You Know About the UAE? Date of Unity: 2nd of December 1971. Iran Emirates consists of the seven small emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Gulf of Oman Sharjah, Ras Al-Khaimah, Ajman, Umm Al-Quwain, and Fujairah). Oman Saudi Arabia Boundaries are Oman, Saudi Arabia, the Arabian Gulf, and the Gulf of Oman). Image source (3) The UAE Before the establishment of the oil economy in the early 1960s, main orientations shaped the traditional Emirati culture: 1. The nomadic desert-oriented Bedouins with small oasis farming within the broader context of the desert economy and culture. 2. The sea-oriented culture that revolved around fishing, pearling, and sea trading. These subcultures were economically, politically, and socially interdependent, creating a common culture and social identity. The UAE shares significant aspects of its culture with the neighboring Arab countries and the larger Arab culture. History of the UAE  History of the UAE The main identity of the UAE is the Arabic-Islamic identity. The history of the UAE can’t be explained away from the Gulf history. The identity of the UAE is explained by the Arab Culture with its elements. The depth and authenticity of the historical relationship of UAE with other societies. The Historical Periods of the Region The Ancient Post-Islam Era Period Image by: Nicola Chilton, (5) Image by: Khushnum Bhandari, (4) The UAE (7 ) Colonization Foundation Period (6) (from 1560-1970) Activity (1)- five-minutes Self-reading Activity Read the Article “Ancient History of the UAE” The area's history can be traced back to 6000 B.C. The UAE as a federation didn’t exist then. The area and the surrounding region were referred to as the Arabian Peninsula. (8) Mention the three Ancient civilizations, and what were the Archaeological excavations in each period and where? For more information visit The National Archive The Ancient Period The earliest buildings in the UAE (more than 8,500 years old) have been found on the island of Ghagha, west of Abu Dhabi. (9) Archaeological sites in Maliha- Sharjah showed evidence of trade links with Greece. Other trade links to the empire of Mesopotamia. (10) Oldest buildings in the UAE  Arrival of Islam (8) Islam arrived in the UAE after the opening of Mecca. Messengers from Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) arrived in the region in A.D. 630 and introduced Islam. Thus, a new era began in the region during the emergence of Islam. Islam entered the region through the Islamic leader Amr bin-al’Aas. The Gulf region willingly accepted the invitation to Islam. The Influence of Islam in the Gulf Region – 1 (8) The region became more stable and it became the center of trade and navigation. The Islamic civilization flourished in the Gulf region during the Umayyad Caliphate (A.D. 661 to 750) and Abbasid Caliphate (A.D. 750 to 1258). Sea trade prospered between the Gulf region and other areas in South-East Asia and West Africa coast, and ship craftsmanship spread in the region. The Influence of Islam in the Gulf Region – 2 (8) There was a huge impact on navigation and trade. Controlling and supervising the Emirates and Oman on the navigation in the Gulf (Shehab Ahmed Bin Majed) and his books and discoveries. Increasing the importance of the Gulf as a global water pathway.  The Colonization Period (1560-1970) (8) The Islamic power in the Arabian Peninsula remained to be noticed until the fall of Al-Andalus (The Islamic Spain in 1492). After that, Europeans started to have ambitions in the gulf and sea routes, which led to commercial areas in South-East Asia. The Ottomans, who ruled from A.D. 1281 to 1924, had limited control over the Arabian Peninsula. From the 17th century, Western European powers started making advances in the Gulf region. Several European countries arrived in the Arabian Peninsula; some to explore and others to seek control of the coasts and open new routes for trade in the Indian Ocean. The European Invasion of the Arabian Peninsula Watch this video The European Invasion of the Arabian Peninsula (8) The Portuguese (1500 to 1622) The Dutch (1622 to 1766) The British (1766 to 1968) How Did they Treat People? They treated the people of the region brutally and tortured them. They also destroyed mosques. They controlled navigation and blocked the routes against the Arab ships.  The Emergence of Tribal Forces in the Region (8) At the Beginning of the 19th Century the region saw the emergence of powers such as the Bani Yas tribe (Al Nahyan and Al Maktoum). They were able to control the lower area of the Gulf (Abu Dhabi and Dubai) The other power was the Al Qawasim who gained power in the northern and eastern areas of the Arabian Gulf. They had built a fleet of over 60 large vessels and a force of nearly 20,000. These two powers tried to battle the British forces but were not successful. To Avoid the Tribal Forces Influence British forces activated internal conflicts among various emirates and destroyed tribal alliances. They signed several treaties (4) and agreements that allowed them to control all internal and external affairs. They (established) erected many airports and military bases in different emirates to ease their communication externally and internally. They controlled all economic activities (Fishing, Trading) in a way that made the economic life of the people very hard. The End of the British Era The role played by the Arab League in condemning the British presence and requesting British forces to withdraw. The increased cultural and political awareness of people in the Emirates. The independence of both Pakistan and India (1947) led to the cancelation of the Government of British India which signed the responsibility of the region to British Foreign Affairs. After the decision of the British to withdraw from the Gulf in 1968, the leaders of the Emirates had to deal with the new responsibilities resulting from independence. The Union Activity (2): The Story of Unity Watch the video and reflect The First Day: Birth of a Nation  Road Map to Unity (11) The experience of the joint relations between Abu Dhabi and Dubai (February 18th, 1968). Configuring the Federation of Emirates oversees foreign affairs, defense, security, and coordination of health services, education, and others. To strengthen the federation further, Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid invited the Rulers of the other five emirates that formed the Trucial States, as well as Bahrain and Qatar, to join the negotiations for the formation of a union.  The agreement stipulated that the purpose of the federation was (12): 1. To cement ties between the members in all fields 2. To coordinate plans for their development and prosperity 3. To reinforce the respect of each one of them for the independence and sovereignty of the others 4. To unify their foreign policies and representation, and its higher policy in international, political, defense, economic, cultural, and other matters A series of events later, in August 1971, Bahrain declared its independence and Qatar followed in September the same year. After the failure of the Nine Members Unity, attention has been directed towards the possibility of a union between seven Emirates.  The Establishment of the United Arab Emirates in 1971 (12) On July 18th, 1971, the interim constitution of the Federation of United Arab Emirates was issued, which provided the selection of Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan as the president of the Federation, Abu Dhabi as the capital of the Federation, and the temporary agreement on the division of ministerial portfolios. On December 2nd, 1971, in Abu Dhabi, the UAE independence was announced, and the British government approved all treaties and agreements.  The Union started with six emirates, and Ras Al Khaimah joined on February 10th, 1972. The federation was complete with the inclusion of all the seven emirates that formed the Trucial States. This newly founded federal state became officially known as (Dawlat Al Imarat Al Arabiyya Al Muttahida) or the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Image source  Today, the UAE enjoys full sovereignty and independence. The UAE has its own flag, coat of arms, and national anthem. All UAE citizens carry the unified nationality of the United Arab Emirates, which is recognized internationally. There were many factors that contributed to the establishment of this federation, which went on to become one of the most stable countries in recent history and is leading in the fields of economy, social stability, and security. What are these factors?  Common language Complementing topography Common Religion Similar resources Similar customs and traditions Shared interests and aspirations The Transformation of an Era After independence, the UAE society has witnessed extreme changes in various aspects (e.g., political, economic, demographic, social, and cultural). Education and health were major issues. Changing the loyalty from the tribal to the national loyalty. Formation of the federal state and federal government. International Recognition of the UAE (8) Since its formation, the UAE established genuine memberships and positioned itself regionally and internationally: 1. On December 2nd, 1971, the UAE joined the Arab League, and it was the eighteenth member back then. 2. On December 9th, 1971, the United Nations Security Council admitted the UAE’s membership. 3. In 1981, the UAE co-founded the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) along with the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Kuwait, the State of Qatar, and the Sultanate of Oman 4. In 1972, it became a member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Closing Quiz Closing Quiz Islam entered the region by the Islamic Leader Khalid Bin Al-Walid (True/False) The first number of Emirates participated in the formation of a union was: a- Three emirates b- Six emirates c- Eight emirates b- Nine emirates How did European colonialism treat the People? (short answer)  References Retrieved [August 8th, 2024] (1) Society. New World Encyclopedia. (n.d.). https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Society#:~:text=An%20organized%20group%20of%20people,also%20be%20considered%20a%20society (2) Sociology - Culture and Society Defined. Cliffs Notes. (n.d.). https://www.cliffsnotes.com/study-guides/sociology/culture-and-societies/culture-and-society defined#:~:text=Sociologists%20define%20society%20as%20t he,beliefs%2C%20values%2C%20and%20activities. (3) GIS map | open data - moccae.gov.ae. (n.d.). https://www.moccae.gov.ae/en/open-data/gis-map.aspx (4) Bedirian, R. (n.d.). Louvre Abu Dhabi unearths what artefacts found in the UAE say about the country’s history. The National. https://www.thenationalnews.com/weekend/2022/09/30/louvre-abu-dhabi-asks-what-artefacts-found-in-the-uae-say-about-the-countrys-history/ (5) Chilton, N. (2022, October 15). 4 archaeological sites within driving distance of Dubai, from bronze-age tombs to ancient trading posts. Travel + Leisure. https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/archaeological-sites-near-dubai-uae (6) Historical Periods. National Library and Archives. (n.d.). https://nla.ae/historical-periods (7) Langton, J. (n.d.). How the UAE was formed: Meetings in the desert led to New Union. The National. https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/heritage/2021/11/15/how-the-uae-was-formed-meetings-in-the-desert-led-to-new-union/ (8) History of the UAE. History of the UAE | The Official Portal of the UAE Government. (n.d.). https://u.ae/en/more/history-of-the-uae (9) Abu Dhabi archaeologists uncover UAE’s oldest buildings dating back 8,500 years. The National. (n.d.). https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/heritage/2022/02/17/abu-dhabi-archaeologists-uncover-uaes-oldest-buildings-dated-8500-years-ago/ (10) Bardsley, D. (n.d.). New artefacts offer glimpse into UAE life more than 4,000 years ago. The National. https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/heritage/2022/07/04/new-artefacts-offer-glimpse-into-uae-life-more-than-4000-years-ago/ (11) About the UAE: The Official Portal of the UAE government. Founders of the Unions| The Official Portal of the UAE Government.