Bahrain
بحرینThe island kingdom of the Gulf, long tied to Iran, with an old community of Persian descent, the Ajam.
Bahrain was ruled at times by the Sasanians and, with interruptions, by Safavid and later Iranian rulers from 1602 until 1783. In earlier centuries its name described the whole eastern coast of Arabia.
The Ajam, Bahrainis of Persian descent, have lived here for generations, with their own neighbourhoods, mosques and ma'tams, and Persian words run through Bahraini Arabic.
Cities and towns
Manamaمنامه
The capital
Muharraqمحرق
The old pearling town
Landmarksبناها و نشانهها
Qal'at al-Bahrain
قلعه بحرینA fort on a tell settled for more than four thousand years
Bahrain through time
Iranian historyThe Pahlavi century and afterدوران پهلوی و پس از آن
Two Pahlavi shahs built railways, universities and a centralised state, while poets, novelists and film-makers created a new Persian culture. The era ended with the revolution of 1979.
- Danish excavations begin at Qal'at al-Bahrain
- Qal'at al-Bahrain inscribed by UNESCO