Fahaheel - Kuwait, Kuwait
A Dutch map from the mid-17th century mark’s Kuwait’s debut to the West. Originally called Al-qurain, by the middle of the following century the roughly 18,000 square kilometres at the head of the Persian Gulf had become an oligarchic merchant principality, its wealth based on the trade of frankincense, dates, gems, spices and fabrics, on pearling, and fishing. To counter Ottoman territorial ambitions in the area, the ruling Sabah family came to an agreement during the nineteenth century with Great Britain whereby Britain assumed responsibility for Kuwait’s security and foreign relations. Full independence from Britain came in 1961, and two years later, Kuwait became a member of the United Nations. |
