ABSTRACT

Bahrain'seconomyin1780closelydependeduponthis environment.Thepresenceofrelativelydependablesourcesoffresh waterhadsupporteddatepalmandvegetablecultivationfor millennia.Harvestingfishandpearlswereotherbellwethersofthe traditionaleconomy.Whiledatepalmagricultureandfishingwere mainlysubsistenceactivities,apparentlytheyyieldedtaxesto whomevergovernedtheislands.Buttradeandmaritimeindustry basedupontheexchangeoflocalproducts(particularlypearls)as wellastrans-shippinggoodsinandoutofeasternArabia'smainland portsaddedanother,oftenveryprofitable,dimensiontothe traditionallocaleconomy.