Events and
Activities

The rise of piracy in the Arabian Sea in the 18th and 19th centuries resulted in a time of unrest that challenged prosperity and regional trade enterprise.  In 1816, a friendly agreement between the British representatives in the Gulf and the Sheikhs of Bahrain secured the protection of shared interests. The agreement was formalised in 1820 with the signing of a General Treaty of Peace, that ushered a new episode in the political and cultural history of both nations. Over the past 200 years, the nature of the British-Bahraini relationship has evolved and the ties between the two nations were strengthened. Above all, this relationship was shaped by varied explorations, encounters and personal stories. This exhibition draws on the first explorations of Bahrain and its archaeological landscape. It celebrates a few of those who have played a major role in bringing global attention to Bahrain. By shifting the focus from artefacts to people and their documented encounters with local Bahrainis, we attempt to shed light on different perspectives of the bicentenary long British-Bahraini relationship.

The exhibition is organised in collaboration with the British Council in Bahrain.