Early times

Archaeological expeditions between 1965-1976 found early rock carvings and pottery showing signs of human habitation dating back to 4000BC. Its appearance on ancient maps would also indicate that traders and explorers came to these civilized settlements in early times. Historical texts claim that the first inhabitants of Qatar are the ancient Canaanites, a people known for their trade and navigation skills. With its location in the Arabian Gulf and the seasonal migration of Arab tribes, Qatar soon found itself in a strategic location, able to trade with others from the Arabian Gulf region. Many fishing centres like Al Bida, Al Khor, Al Wakra and Al Zubara appeared which encouraged pearl trading, but the gulf suffered from a commercial decline during the Roman era as trade concentrated in the Red Sea area. However, from the third century AD the Gulf area regained its important trading position.

In the mid seventh century and the appearance of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula, Qatar converted and had a role in the spread of Islam beyond the seas. Historical documents show Qatar became renowned for the skill of its people who traded in weaving, cloth making and for the quality of their horses and camels. Some historians considered it part of the region then known as Bahrain, which covered the area from Basra in Iraq to Oman.
Qatar thrived in the Abbasid period and had excellent relations with the Caliphs in Baghdad. Abbasid artifacts were discovered in Moab fort in western Qatar. The fort itself is a good example of Abbasid architecture.

In the sixteenth century Qatar came under the influence of the Portuguese, who established control over many areas in the Arabian Gulf. They controlled trade and navigation, and their small forts can still be seen today. In 1538 AD the Ottomans managed to expel the Portuguese and for four centuries Qatar, like other areas in the Gulf, was under Ottoman influence. Ottoman sovereignty was mostly a formality and real power stayed in the hands of local sheikhs.

Independence

Qatar remained a British protectorate until 3 September 1971 when Britain withdrew from Qatar and the Arabian Gulf area. Qatar became an independent country and adopted a provisional constitution declaring it an independent Arab country with an official religion of Islam, using Shari’ah as the prime source of legislation and Arabic as an official language. The Al Thani family formally became the ruling dynasty. This period witnessed the arrival of a large number of workers particularly from Arab countries.

With large oil adn gas reserves Qatar rapidly became a rich country with a modern and well-developed infrastructure.

On 27 June 1995, His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani assumed power with the support of the ruling family and the Qatari people. With his accession Qatar entered a new era of modernisation and embarked on the development of a strong base for democracy.
A great social and political transformation is under way.