Inhabited by Mesopotamians in 2000 BC

Colonized by Greeks

123BC-636 AD fell under control of 4 different empires

1521 colonized by Portuguese

Controlled by Ottoman Empire in early 17th century

1899 becomes a British protectorate

1913- Anglo-ottoman convention

1947- slavery abolished

1951- public works program; infrastructure transformed

1961 becomes independent; joins Arab league; birth of modern Kuwait

1963 first parliamentary election

1976 first suspension of National Assembly

1990 Invaded by Iraq & annexed

National Assembly dissolved

2009 First women in Parliament

2011-12 Arab spring

9th century- famous trading station

17th century- became Major trade center

1775- merchants, trade routes, and The English Factory divert to Kuwait from Basra

1800 Sea trade estimated at 16m Bombay Rupees ($256,369)

1937- large oil reserves discovered

1952- largest exporter of oil in Persian Gulf Region

1970s- Ends partnership with Gulf Oil and BP by nationalizing KOC; becomes rich by exploiting oil fields

Early 1980s economic crises following Souk Al-Manakh stock market crash

Late 1980s Declined forgiving Iraq its $65m debt

Early 1990s Paid out $17B to coalition forces

636 AD-Battle of Chains

7th Century- Muslim armies stationed due to strategic location

Late 1500s- Portuguese build defensive settlements

Late 1700s- Largest sea fleet in region

1899- Treaty with Britain gives Kuwait additional naval support

1990- Gulf War begins with Iraqi invasion of Kuwait

1991- Iraqi forces driven out, following a scorched earth policy

2003- Kuwait becomes launching location for U.S. troops into Iraq

Per Capita income of $81,800 (5th richest per capita)

GDP of $167.9B

Most important trade partners are Japan, United States, India, South Korea, Singapore, China,European Union and Saudi Arabia.

Estimated 10% of world’s reserves

Population was estimated to be 2.7 million people

Net migration rate of 16.01 (third highest in the world)

80% of population is Arab

Estimated 60-70% Sunni, 30-40% Shia

Spends close to $5B for defense

Military size is ~18,000 (15,000 Army; 2,500 Air Force; 2,000 Navy; 400 Coast Guard)

Long-term defense cooperation agreements with the United States, Britain, and France

Aerospace II

Dec 1, 2013

Kuwait

The Middle East is a region home to nearly 400 million people, spans two continents, and contains 17 countries, 9 of which are hostile to or disapprove of US leadership (as of 2011). Of the remaining 8 countries, only half can be considered allies of, or friendly to, the US: Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and Kuwait. Combined, these nations have received over $140B in grants, aid, and contracts from the US since 1950. Of these four countries, Kuwait is the most prosperous and stable country, both economically and otherwise, despite its small size.

The modern nation of Kuwait has existed only since 1961 after it gained independence from Britain, but the area it now inhabits has a long history. Mesopotamians inhabited the island of Failaka in 2000 BC up to 400 BC, when the Greeks colonized the island. Following the fall of Greece, the area was heavily influenced by the Parthian Empire, an ancient political and cultural power in Iran. During this time, Kuwait saw the birth of the Kingdom of Characene; while not particularly significant, it was still a major trade partner for the surrounding peoples. As Parthian influence waned, another empire rose: the Sassanid Empire, otherwise known as the Neo-Persian kingdom, was the last Iranian power before the rise of Islam. In 636 AD, the Battle of Chains was fought between Sasania and the Rashidun Caliphate. The Rashidun victory lead to the founding of the town of Kazima, one of the first Islamic settlements in Kuwait. Kuwait slowly became increasingly influenced by Islam, until it eventually became part of the Islamic empire. During this time, it was known for being a fertile area and its strategic location. For the next few centuries, Kuwait remained Islamic, until European colonization became prevalent in the area. In 1521, the area fell under Portuguese control. By the late 16th century, they had built several defensive outposts in Kuwait; however, just a century later, Kuwait became part of the Ottoman Empire. During this period, Kuwaitis picked their first Emir, Sabah I bin Jaber. As The Ottoman Empire crumbled, so did its control over Kuwait, and the country was passed over to Britain in 1899. Over the next 60 years the country saw the abolishment of slavery, the creation of an infrastructure, and the discovery of oil. 31 days after gaining independence from Britain in 1961, Kuwait joined the Arab League (an alliance of 11 nations similar to the EU; however, member states do not share the same currencies). In 1963 the country saw its first parliamentary elections and in 2009 its first woman MP's were elected. Kuwait was also a member of the "Arab Spring States" in 2011-12.

Kuwait's economic stability is the result of a long history of trade it's colonization by rich countries. The nation was known for its placement on trade routes and was a famous trading station by the 9th century. Following the Persian invasion of Basra in 1775, Kuwait experienced an enormous increase of merchants, and became the new home for the English Factory (the East India Company) . Within 25 years, it had the largest sea trade in all of the Middle East, at 16 million rupees. In the 20th century, Kuwait grew even richer because of their extensive oil resources. Towards the end of the 20th century, Iraq accused Kuwait of using slant drilling to steal their oil, and annexed the country. By the end of the war, Kuwait had paid out $17B (89% of its 1991 $19.2B GDP) to coalition forces to remove the Iraqi military.

Despite its tactical location on the Persian Gulf, Kuwait has not been involved many wars. Due to its small population its military is, for the most part, dwarfed by those of the surrounding countries (less than .01% of its total population serve in the military). Because of this Kuwait relies on forces from allied countries (US, France, Britain) to maintain an army. However, in the late 1800s, it boasted the largest naval fleet in the region, due to its immensely successful sea trade. Following its 1899 joining of the British empire, a treaty gave the country an even larger armada. For the majority of the 20th century, it's military slowly shrunk while it's economy prospered. In 1990, Saddam Hussein's Iraq invaded Kuwait after disputes over oil drilling. Due to its small army, a coalition of nearly one million troops was formed to help Kuwait drive out Iraqi forces, and within six months they had succeeded in driving out all the enemy forces. Kuwait was also the springboard for U.S troops entering Iraq during the invasion phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. Since then, the country has been relatively stable, unlike the nations surrounding it.

As of 2013, Kuwait is an incredibly prosperous country and one of the most progressive in the Middle East. Its per capita income is around $81,800 (fifth highest in world), compared to Egypt's $4,000. Kuwait's military of 18,000 personnel is one of the smallest in the region, despite spending ~$5B on defense budgets; however, coalition forces more than make up for the disparity between the Kuwaiti military and that of the surrounding countries. It has a population of 2.7 million, (74.4% 15 or older and 41% female) and has the third highest net migration rate in the world (16.1). 93.9% of its citizens are literate, and almost all children attend school until the age of 15. The official religion, language, and currency are Islam, Arabic, and the Kuwaiti dinar, respectively. Unlike most Middle Eastern nations, Kuwait is not a theocracy; rather, it is a unitary hereditary constitutional monarchy (a single executive figure works within constitutional bounds and is succeeded by his heir). Because of this, there is no significant women’s rights movement in the country, as they are considered equal to men. Kuwait's major trade partners are Japan, United States and India, and it has defense arrangements with the US, UK, Russia, and France.

Kuwait’s history of relative opulence is likely to continue far into the future. It has a steadily increasing economy, has some kind of alliance with 4 of the 5 permanent United Nations council members (US, France, Russia, UK), and has a stable population. Kuwait is also allied with or close to almost all surrounding countries. It is estimated to have 104B barrels of crude oil supply, which is equal to 10% of the world total. Although the main industry is petroleum, Kuwait also has one of the largest shipping in the region, and several other smaller industries. Because of its prosperity, Kuwait is a significant site for refugees; nearly half of its population consists of non-nationals (people not born in Kuwait). An increase in these fugitives could lead to a drain on the economy and problems for the government. In its current situation, Kuwait has no reason to be the aggressor of any wars for a long time, and its extensive alliances will likely dissuade any would-be attackers.

Kuwait's current prosperity is a result of several factors. Centuries of trade and commerce strengthened the economy to the point that the average Kuwaiti makes 20x what an Iraqi would. The country hasn't been directly involved in a war since the 1990's, and is one of the most peaceful countries in the Middle East. It also has one of the only non-theocratic governments; Kuwait has a Emir (king), Prime Minister, and parliament. Almost all children receive at least 15 years of education, unlike some surrounding nations, where only boys are permitted to attend school. Because of these factors, Kuwait is one of the most prosperous, stable, and progressive countries in the Middle East.

Works Cited

BBC. "Kuwait Timeline." BBC News. BBC, 29 Oct. 2013. Web. 11 Dec. 2013.

CIA. "World Factbook." The World Factbook. CIA, n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2013.