▪ Until the late Middle Ages, "Bahrain" referred to the region of Eastern Arabia that included Southern Iraq, Kuwait, Al-Hasa, Qatif, and Bahrain. The region stretched from Basra in Iraq to the Strait of Hormuz in Oman. The exact date at which the term "Bahrain" began to refer solely to the Awal archipelago is unknown.

Bahrain was home to Dilmun, an important Bronze Age trade center linking Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley. It has been famed since antiquity for its pearl fisheries, which were considered the best in the world into the 19th century.

One of the earliest areas to convert to Islam, Bahrain converted in 628 CE. Following a period of Arab rule, Bahrain was occupied by the Portuguese in 1521, who were expelled in 1602 by Shah Abbas I of the Safavid dynasty under the Persian Empire. In 1783, the Bani Utbah clan captured Bahrain from Nasr Al-Madhkur and it has since been ruled by the Al Khalifa family, with Ahmed al Fateh as Bahrain's first hakim.

In the late 1800s, following successive treaties with the British, Bahrain became a protectorate of the United Kingdom. Bahrain declared independence from the UK in 1971. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002. In 2011, the country experienced protests during the regional Arab Spring. 

Bahrain had the first post-oil economy in the Persian Gulf. Since the late 20th century, Bahrain has invested in the banking and tourism sectors. Many large financial institutions have a presence in Manama, the country's capital. It has a high Human Development Index and is recognized by the World Bank as a high income economy. Bahrain is a member of the United Nations, Arab League, Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). 

• Government: constitutional monarchy (Al Khalifa family)
• Parliament recommends laws to His Majesty
• Founded: December 16, 1971 after gaining independence from the United Kingdom
• King: His Royal Highness Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa (born in 1950) became King in 2002 after serving as Emir since 1999
• Half the government positions are filled by members of the Al Khalifa family.
• The Al Khalifa family came to Bahrain from Kuwait in 1783 and drove out the Persians. They have continuously ruled Bahrain ever since. From Wikipedia

• Currency: Bahraini dinar (BD); 1 BD = $2.65 USD; 1,000 fils = 1 BD
• GDP: $44.17 billion (USD) - 97th largest in the world
• Top five exports: mineral fuels including oil: $10.4 billion (58.5% of total exports), aluminium: $2.1 billion (11.6%), ores, slag, ash: $991 million (5.5%), iron, steel: $695.6 million (3.9%), vehicles: $403.3 million (2.3%)
• Pearl diving and fisheries were the major industries in Bahrain prior to the discovery of oil in1932.

In Bahrain, individuals are free to practice their religion but are not permitted to evangelize. Islam is the state religion, with the population comprising two main Islamic sects: Sunni and Shia Muslims. Sunnis, who make up one-third of Bahraini citizens and 90% of Muslims worldwide, believe the first four caliphs following Prophet Mohammed were rightful leaders. Many government employees in Bahrain are Sunni, and they often reside in wealthier areas with better infrastructure.

In contrast, Shia Muslims account for two-thirds of Bahraini citizens and 10% of Muslims globally. They believe that only Ali, the fourth caliph, was the rightful successor to Mohammed. In Bahrain, Shias typically work in the private sector and live in less affluent, more segregated areas with poorer infrastructure.

While Islam dominates religious life, Bahrain is also home to various other faiths, including Christianity (12.1%), Hinduism (6.4%), Buddhism, Judaism, Baháʼí, Sikhism, and Druze. The Islamic holy day is Friday, with weekends beginning on Thursday afternoon.

The American community in Bahrain traces its origins to the arrival of missionaries from the Reformed Church in America in the late 19th century. The American Mission Hospital is often cited as a longstanding model of U.S.–Bahraini relationships.

Bahrain has provided a base for U.S. naval activity in the Persian Gulf since 1947. Bahrain hosts the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet and the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command. The Fifth Fleet is responsible for naval forces in the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and parts of the Indian Ocean.