Timeline / Before 1800 to 1880 / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (SHARJAH) Date Country Theme 1700 United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) Political Context In the early 1700s, the (Al-Qasimi) Qawasim confederation migrates to the coast of the Arab Gulf from the Persian littoral. Here, they establish their main base in Julfar (later Ras al-Khaimah), soon extending their sway all along the lower Gulf, across areas of the east coast and towns on the Persian littoral. 1790 - 1800 United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) Political Context Between around 1790 and the early 1800s, threatened by increasing British inroads into traditional Gulf economies and politics, and supported by the Persians and Omanis, the Qawasim attack British vessels to defend their economic empire in the Lower Gulf. 1800s United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) Cities And Urban Spaces In around 1800, the Sharjah town is estimated to have around 2,000 to 3,000 inhabitants. Early 1800s United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) Economy And Trade The Qawasim possess a fleet of over 700 long-distance trading vessels, venturing all over the Gulf as well as in India and East Africa. 1803 - 1866 United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) Political Context Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr succeeds his father as leader of the Qawasim. He expands the Qawasim Empire to the east to encompass the areas now known as Khor Fakkan and Kalba. He delegates the administration of key strongholds to his brothers and later to his sons. His half-brother Salih bin Saqr rules Sharjah from 1803 to 1838, followed by his son Saqr bin Sultan (until 1846), and then his son Abdallah bin Sultan (until 1855). Around 1805 United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) Economy And Trade The Qawasim demand tribute from the British East India Company in exchange for navigational rights in the Gulf; the British then begin military interventions aimed at destroying the economic hegemony of the Qawasim in the Lower Gulf region. 1806 United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) Political Context A temporary Peace Accord is achieved between the British East India Company, represented by Captain David Seton the Resident at Muscat, and Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr. This comes following several incidents labelled by the British as “piracy”, which the Qawasim argue is crucial defence of their existentially important economic interests in the Gulf region. 1809 - 1810 United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) Political Context Repeated skirmishes between British and Qawasim vessels are labelled “piracy” by the former and taken as justification to plot the final destruction of the Qawasim by the latter. The British launch naval attacks against the Qawasim strongholds at Date Country Theme Ras al-Khaimah along the Gulf and on the Persian littoral. However, the Qawasim succeed in rebuilding their fleet and positions to resume their defensive trade-war against the British and their Omani allies. 1814 United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) Cities And Urban Spaces Sharjah becomes the main seat of the ruling Sheikh, Sultan bin Saqr al-Qasimi I, and the centre of the government of the Sharjah Emirate. 1819 United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) Political Context The British put a stop to Qawasim hegemony in the Lower Gulf region by destroying their ports, strongholds, and fleets on both shores of the Arab Gulf. 1820 United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) Political Context The British impose a Peace Treaty on the Qawasim and other sheikhs of the Arab littoral of the Gulf. The signing is preceded by a preliminary agreement forcing the sheikhs to turn over all remaining vessels, fortifications and weapons in exchange for the restoration of their fishing and pearling vessels. The Treaty enjoins all signatories to fly a specific red-and-white flag. 1820 United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) Cities And Urban Spaces British Royal Navy surveyors visit Sharjah. After 1820 United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) Economy And Trade Pearling becomes the major industry of the Qawasim and other sheikhdoms of the Arab littoral of the Gulf; exports provide the most important revenues. 1822 United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) Cities And Urban Spaces A survey of Sharjah records it as having fortified towers and walls, a large mosque, as well as single- and two-storey houses. 1823 - 1825 United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) Political Context After the defeat of the Qawasim by the British, a British Residency is established at Bushire on the Persian littoral to represent Britain’s political, economic and military interests there. Shortly after, a “Native Agent” is based in Sharjah as his representative. Native agents were generally non-Arab but Arabic-speaking Muslims from the Indian subcontinent or the Persian littoral of the Gulf, chosen for their loyalty to Britain and their in-depth local and regional knowledge. Their task was to monitor activities on the Trucial Coast and liaise with local powers on Britain’s behalf. 1825 United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) Great Inventions Of The 19th Century The first proper British survey of the southern and western waters of the Gulf begins at Ras Musandam. 1826 United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) Cities And Urban Spaces Date Country Theme Sharjah is recorded as having 175 stone buildings and 2,000 areesh (palm-frond) houses. 1831 United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) Cities And Urban Spaces The population of Sharjah rises to 13,900 inhabitants, its urban features are now much more substantial in terms of its domestic, commercial and official architecture. 1835 United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) Political Context The British impose a Treaty to prohibit maritime warfare among the Arab littoral sheikhdoms during the pearling season from May to November with Britain as enforcer of the peace. The British now term the lands of the signatory sheikhdoms as “The Trucial Coast” or “Trucial Oman”. The Treaty is renewed regularly until 1853, when a Perpetual Treaty is put into place. 1853 United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) Political Context A Treaty of Maritime Peace in Perpetuity is concluded between Britain and the Trucial Coast rulers. Britain assumes the right to police maritime peace and commits to protecting the sheikhdoms from external interference and attack. 1862 United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) Great Inventions Of The 19th Century The British India Company establishes a regular steamer service in the Arabian Gulf, first as a mail service, and later enhanced by cargo and passenger services. 1864 - 1865 United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) Great Inventions Of The 19th Century The Qawasim and other sheikhdoms of the Arab littoral are held by Britain to sign a Treaty pledging to abstain from any interference with British Gulf Telegraph installations and to punish any aggressions made against them. 1866 United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) Political Context Qawasim lands are divided among the four sons of Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr following his death. The number of Trucial States rises from five to nine. After 1869 United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) Economy And Trade Banyan (Hindu) merchants from British India increase their commercial, shipping and banking activities throughout the Trucial Coast, particularly within the pearling sector. Soon the Banyan becomes the main financiers, controlling all processes involving the preparation and pricing of pearls for export to Europe. 1874 United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) Music, Literature, Dance And Fashion The first Emirati historian Abdullah Saleh al-Mutawa’ is born in Sharjah. 1875 United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) Great Inventions Of The 19th Century Date Country Theme Gray, Paul and Co, a British Company, establishes a shipping office in Lingah, a city within Qawasim territory, located on the Persian littoral of the Arabian Gulf. The port first served for mail delivery and as a transshipment centre for traffic to and from Bahrain and the Trucial Coast. Later until 1902 all pearls from the Trucial Coast were exported to British India via this port. 1875 United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) Economy And Trade Gray, Paul and Co, a British Company, establishes a shipping office in Lingah, a city within Qawasim territory, located on the Persian littoral of the Arabian Gulf. The port first served for mail delivery and as a transshipment centre for traffic to and from Bahrain and the Trucial Coast. Later until 1902 all pearls from the Trucial Coast were exported to British India via this port. 1879 United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) Economy And Trade A British-enforced Treaty is signed to ensure the mutual surrender of fraudulently absconding debtors in the pearling industry. It is signed by the Trucial Sheikhs in the presence of Haji Abdul Rahman, the Residency Agent at Sharjah, and Haji Abdul al-Qasimi, the Residency Munshi who had been deputed from Bushire to convey the directives of the British Resident..