Asian Studies

The Bani Utbah tribe members are the ones who are attributed with the founding of Kuwait in the early 18th century. By then, Kuwait was known as Guraine. The tribe members of Bani Utbah developed the port and urban center of Guraine which they later named Kuwait. In the eighteenth century, Al-Khalifa Al-Jalahma and Al-Sabah arrived in the state of Kuwait. The three of them were Anizah tribe descendants, who had progressively migrated from Jed in the early 18th century to the Persian Gulf shores. It is believed that Sabahs first migrated to the south in order to flee from a severe drought in Najad, but the southern conditions were bleaker. As a result, they decided to head to Kuwait which is in the north since there were ample water resources hence settling in the country (Abu-Hakima, pp 22).

Kuwait history
The region that later became Kuwait was initially under the control of the chief regional Gulf powers, principally the dynasties that were based in both Persia and Mesopotamia. The Safavids, which was one of the Persian dynasties, was the most influential dynasty in the region. It had moved into this region in the sixteenth century and founded a great commercial empire in the Arabian Peninsulas eastern seaboard. In later years of the same century, the Arabian Peninsulas northeastern region became part of the Ottoman Empire of Turkey. However, things took a different turn when the family of Al-Sabah, which even now rules Kuwait, arrived into the region in the eighteenth century and took control of the entire local administration. This family then steered Kuwait into a nation of semi-autonomous position. But the eminent fear that the former rulers from Turkey would attempt to reassert control in the region the Al-Sabah family led the other Kuwait people in making a treaty with the British, permitting Britain to control the foreign affairs of the country and in exchange, Kuwait would receive military protection from the British. This particular threat ceased following the Ottoman Empires collapse at the close of WWI. However, the country remained a protectorate of Britain until 1961, when it finally attained full independence (Rush, pp 35).

Kuwait is contemporary compared to the rest of the world due to the high literacy rates prevailing in the country. The literacy rate of approximately 93.3  of Kuwaitis is among the highest in not only the Arab world, but also in the entire world. It has mainly resulted from extensive support the Kuwaitis have received from the government. The entire public education system is free. The Kuwaiti government also sponsors qualified students from the country to study in foreign nations for courses that are not offered by the Kuwaiti universities (Casey, pp 41).

Modernity of Kuwait is also different from the rest of the world in that unlike in other nations where majority are employed by the private sector, more than 90 of Kuwaitis are employed by the  government. Kuwait is also contemporary compared to the rest of the world in that it puts about 10 of the countrys oil revenues in a special reserve to be used by future Kuwaiti generations. These reserves are supposed to be utilized once the nations oil reserves will be completely depleted and thus these reserves will assist the country during the transition period (Casey, pp 47). 

The history of Kuwait can be traced all the way to the sixteenth century through to the eighteenth century when the nation was established. The Al-Sabah family has played a significant role ever since it took control of the country from the Ottoman Empire of the Turkish people. The British also form a significant history of the Kuwaitis since the country was a protectorate of Britain until 1961, when it finally received independence.