Late Islamic Period, after 1600

Advances in maritime navigation, and the development of the region’s pearl industry, spurred international trade and stimulated the pearl fishing industry of Qatar and the Gulf. New pearling and trading towns sprang up on the north and east coast of Qatar, including Al Zubara, Qatar's UNESCO World Heritage Site. Zubara started life as a pearl fishing town in the second half of the 18th century but rapidly became the main trading town of the Gulf, transporting goods between Iraq, Iran, India and the wider Indian Ocean region. Its fortifications, market, magnificent houses, mosques and palaces survive today as an archaeological site in the north of Qatar. These connections drew Qatar and its people into global networks of exchange and consumption to an unprecedented degree.

In the 17th century the Ottomans and Persians continued to exercise power in the Gulf, but European colonial powers were increasingly intruding into the region. Since the early 16th century, the Portuguese had imposed their rule after subjugating the Kingdom of Hormuz. By the early 17th century their hold had loosened as the English allied with the Persian Safavid dynasty, and then, with the Omanis, expelled them from the region. The Dutch were also involved, but eventually the region became part of the British Empire, ruled from India.

During this time, most of the major towns of the Gulf were founded, many of which are the capitals of the Gulf states today. The regions’ inhabitants took advantage of expanding opportunities for pearl fishing and trade. New global trading patterns emerged, yet ancient trading networks persisted.

GARLAKE, P. S., 1978, “Fieldwork at Huwailah, site 23” in B. De Cardi (ed.), Qatar Archaeological Report, Excavation 1973, The Qatar National Museum and Oxford University Press, Chap. 15, pp. 170–178.

HARDY-GUILBERT, Cl., 1980, "Rapport preliminaire de fouilles a Huwailah," in J. Tixier (ed.), Mission Archeologique francaise a Qatar 1976-1977 / 1977-1978, CNRS Paris et Ministere de l Information Qatar, vol. 1, pp. 122–127.

HARDY-GUILBERT, Cl., 1991, "Dix ans de recherche archeologique sur la periode islamique dans le Golfe (1977-1987), Bilans et perspectives," in Y. Ragib (ed.), Documents de l’Islam médiéval: Nouvelles perspectives de recherche, Institut Francais d Archeologie Orientale & CNRS, TAEI 29, pp. 131–192.