Bahrain
Bahrain, officially the Kingdom of Bahrain, is an island country in West Asia. It is situated on the Persian Gulf, and comprises a small archipelago made up of 50 natural islands and an additional 33 artificial islands, centered on Bahrain Island which makes up around 83 percent of the country's landmass. Bahrain is situated between Qatar and the northeastern coast of Saudi Arabia, to which it is connected by the King Fahd Causeway. The population of Bahrain is 1,501,635 as of May 14, 2023, based on elaborations of the United Nations data, of whom 712,362 are Bahraini nationals. Bahrain spans some 760 square kilometres (290 sq mi), and is the third-smallest nation in Asia after the Maldives and Singapore. The capital and largest city is Manama.
Some of the key events about Bahrain
- 1783Bahrain became a British protectorate, marking the beginning of a long-standing relationship with the United Kingdom
- 1783Bahrain came under Al Khalifa rule, ending Persian control
- 1861Bahrain became a British protectorate, limiting its sovereignty
- 1932Oil was discovered in Bahrain, transforming the country's economy
- 1932Discovery of oil led to rapid modernization and societal changes
- 1965March Intifada occurred, resulting in violent clashes between protesters and authorities
- 1971Bahrain gained full independence from the United Kingdom
- 1971Iran reasserted its claim over Bahrain, creating diplomatic tensions
- 1973The country's first parliamentary elections were held
- 1975The National Assembly was dissolved, suspending parts of the constitution
- 1981An alleged coup attempt was foiled, leading to arrests and executions
- 1986The King Fahd Causeway connecting Bahrain to Saudi Arabia was opened
- 1994A period of civil unrest began, known as the 1990s Uprising in Bahrain
- 2000The National Action Charter was introduced, paving the way for political reforms
- 2002Bahrain was proclaimed a constitutional monarchy
- 2004Bahrain became the first Arab country to chair a session of the United Nations General Assembly
- 2005The Bahrain World Trade Center, featuring wind turbines integrated into its design, was completed
- 2010Bahrain's Formula One racing circuit hosted its first Grand Prix, putting the country on the global motorsport map
- 2011Arab Spring protests in Bahrain were met with a violent crackdown
- 2016Prominent human rights activist was arrested, sparking international concern
Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.
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