List of plates --Glossary -- Abbreviations -- Preface -- Acknowledgements -- 1. Historical and geo-political setting -- Qatar in ancient and medieval times -- Towns and topography in modern times -- The British survey of Qatar -- Shaikhs and tribes in Qatar -- Al-Thani family -- The major powers -- 2. The shifting balance from Zubara to Al-Bida -- The foundation of Zubara -- The rise of Zubara -- Zubara's occupation of Bahrain -- Wahabi rule and the fall of Zubara -- The ascendancy of bin Jaber -- The flight of bin Jaber -- The emergency of al-Bida -- Conclusion -- 3. The struggle for power in Bahrain and the fall of Bin Tarif -- External pressure of Bahrain -- Bahrain's interference in al-Huwailah -- Bin Tarif -- British action against al-Bida -- British contract with bin Tahni -- Bin Tarif in al-Bida -- The battle of Fuwairet -- Conclusion -- 4. Bin Thani and the unification of Qatar -- Bin Thani's move to Al-Bida -- Wahabi plans to invade Bahrain -- Bin Thani's support for Faisal -- British intervention -- Faisal's withdrawal -- Collapse of the Peace Treaty -- The problem of Zakat -- Bahraini interference in Wakra -- Resumption of tribute payment -- Attack on Wakra and Doha -- The 1868 Treaty -- Unification of Qatar -- 5. The Ottomans in al-Bida and the ascendancy of Shaikh Jasim -- Nejd expedition -- Landing at al-Bida -- Struggle for Zubara -- Emergence of Shaikh Jasim -- Administrative reforms -- Battle of Wajbah -- British involvement -- Conclusion -- 6. The 1895 Zubara tragedy and the aftermath -- Gathering storm -- Pelly's Zubara proceedings -- Ottoman intervention -- Bombardment of Zubara -- Post aggression settlement -- The minor uprising -- Conclusion -- 7. Struggle for British protection -- The question of protection -- Mudirs for Zubara, Wakra and Khor al-Odaid -- Curzon's historic visit -- Pearls and the Qatar Treaty -- Perideaux's mission and internal issues of Qatar -- Conclusion -- 8. The last phase of Shaikh Jasim's rulership and the Zakhnuniyah crisis -- The governorship of Shaikh Abdullah -- Shaikh Jasim's Saudi mediation -- Economic conditions -- Anglo-Ottoman row over Wakra -- Arms trade -- Ottoman occupation of Zakhnuniyah -- Evacuation of Zakhnuniyah and the question of the Qatar Treaty -- Conclusion -- 9. The Baghdad Railway and the status of Qatar -- Britain and the railway -- Qatar in the Anglo-Ottoman negotiations -- The Convention of 1913 and the autonomy of Qatar -- Post convention Qatar -- The war time situation -- Ottoman evacuation of al-Bida -- The Treaty negotiations -- The Treaty of 1916 -- Conclusion -- 10. Summary and concluding remarks.