Reem Alzari

HISTORY OF BAHRAIN
New York Institute of Technology Dr. Ali Kamaluddin

BAHRAIN NATIONAL MUSEUM

Hall of Graves:

Contains graves dating back to the Dilmun era is in the form of hills. The dead are buried with their belongings because it was believed that the dead will return back and use their belongings in another life.

BAHRAIN NATIONAL MUSEUM (CONT.)

Dilmun Hall:

Dilmun is the oldest civilizations in the territory of Bahrain. You will find information and stuff that were discovered in some of the temples and tombs from pottery, tools, copper, shoulders and spears. Dilmun was known as the land of immortality and the belief was that anyone who drinks from its fresh waters becomes immortal. Another belief of the existance of the goddess of water on the land of Dilmun. Contains the great epic of Gilgamesh.

Epic of Gilgamesh

BAHRAIN NATIONAL MUSEUM (CONT.)

Tylos & Islam Hall:

Contains a section for all the pottery and statues dating back to Tylos. Different types of weapons and ammunition belonging to the Islamic period. Model of the first mosque in Bahrain Khamis mosque.

Pottery

BAHRAIN NATIONAL MUSEUM (CONT.)

Documents & Manuscripts Hall:

Contain a large amount of papers and rare exhibits such as treaties, conventions and private correspondence and documents of land ownership. Samples of the first drivers license and passport. Collection of decorated Qurans which are the rarest assets in this hall.

Quran

BAHRAIN NATIONAL MUSEUM (CONT.)

Crafts & Trade Hall:

When you enter this hall you will feel that you are living the real life in Bahrain, where there are large statues/models reflecting all professions and trades that were practiced by people in the early days.

Pearling & Fishing

BAHRAIN NATIONAL MUSEUM (CONT.)

Customs & Traditions Hall:

Here, every corner tells a story of its own. All kinds of clothing and popular games. This hall shows the simplicity of life back then in spite of its difficulty and lack of amenities.

Wedding

CHARLES BELGRAVE ROLE IN BAHRAIN

He was appointed as Bahrains government advisor in 1926 until 1957. His contributions were:

Administrative reforms of the government. Organized the health sector. Organized the Education sector. Organized the customs sector. Organized the police and judiciary sectors. Had a major role in the infrastructure and architecture of the country (Ex. Bab Al Bahrain).

OLD & NEW BAHRAIN (POLITICALLY)

Old Unstable due to the many colonial invasions. No freedom in politics. No elections. No Parliament, municipal and legislative councils.

New Freedom of speech. Media freedom. Political freedom. Parliament. Freedom of election.

OLD & NEW BAHRAIN (ECONOMICALLY)

Old Limited sources of income:

Fishing Pearling Agriculture

Strategic location for the purest pearls in the world.

New New sources of income, due to discovery of oil. Banking & financial sectors increased job opportunities. Strategic center for investments in the Gulf.

OLD & NEW BAHRAIN (SOCIALLY)

Stronger family bonds. Face-to-face communication was common. Stronger friends & neighbors bonds. Friends were also friends of our families. Pure relationships are not based on any kind of interests which lasted longer.

Old

Weaker family/friends bonds. Individuals spend more time away from family. Individuals communicate through the new means of technology more, instead of the face-to-facce interaction. Relationships are based on the individuals interests.

New

BAHRAINS INTERNATIONAL VALUE

Considered a center for strategic investments in the Gulf.

Bahrain Bay Bahrain World Trade Center Bahrain Financial Harbor Durrat Al Bahrain

Known for its security & stability. Known for the kindness of its people. Known to have a high level of intellectuals. Bahrain was and still is the focus of many ambitions for its strategic location.

THE REIGN OF KING HAMAD

New political reforms.

Men & women participated in parliament elections.

Establishment of the Supreme Council for Women. New newspapers established with full freedom to express opinions respectfully. Bahrainis can make, change or cancel a law through the council of representatives.

Launch of advanced schools & increased numbers of private schools & universities.
Unemployment insurance through Ministry of Labor. Transparency in dealing with corruption through the council of administrative control.

PERSONAL EVALUATION (POLITICS)

Great political opportunities. Freedom of practicing politics. Misuse of freedom of opinion.

Disrespect of communitys principles.

Increase political awareness programs.

Educate the community about the limits of

freedom.

PERSONAL EVALUATION (EDUCATION)

Formal education was introduced in Bahrain in 1919, with the opening of

boy's school in Al-Muharraq and the first girl's school opened in 1928.

Educational movements in the early stages was very strong. Cirricula that is taught now lacks the strong values & ethics that were taught previously through the teaching of Quran. Current cirricula highly exposed locals to foreign customes, traditions and values, therefore, allowing locals to adabt to foreign values. Suggestion: translation of Arabic educational books written by Arabic writers to English and propose them within the cirricula in both public and private schools and universities.

PERSONAL EVALUATION (ECONOMY)

Bahrain will remain a strategic center for high investments due to its

geographical location.

New economical visions for the year 2030 is put together by the Economic Development Board (EDB).

To insure an economic growth that will benefit all Bahrainis fairly. Increase the investment portal in Bahrain. Develop the education system to provide approperiate education.

Banking & financial fields in Bahrain are internationally exposed, allowing a better economical opportunities & perspective. Existing (ex. Formula 1) & upcoming projects will attract more investors and give the economy in Bahrain a push forward.

TECHNOLOGY VS. SOCIAL LIFE IN BAHRAIN

Technology could help a lot in means of communication within social life, but it

still has its draw backs on individuals and the society as a whole.

Theres a lack of visual input, facial expressions, body language, and clear emotional content between individuals.

Different options in dropdown menus (ex. dropdown menus in a website) limit our choices, our thinking, imaginations, and actions.

Technology puts us in a box and turns us into robots. The relationship becomes between the individual and the tech device.