Qatar National Library (QNL) marked Qatar National Day with a seminar examining the history of Qatar and the Arabian Gulf through archival documents. The event brought together scholars to explore key historical milestones and Qatar's cultural influence within the Gulf and wider Arab world.
The seminar fostered scholarly exchange on evolving approaches to historical documentation, including the transformation of historical writing in response to modern methodologies and the value of private documents in uncovering untold stories. Discussions also touched on how archival documents shape the current understanding of regional history.
Dr. Hamad Al-Ghadeed, Assistant Professor of Modern and Contemporary History of the Gulf and the Middle East at Qatar University, drew on British archives to examine the establishment and evolution of Qatar's security apparatus during the mid-20th century.
Dr. Philippe Pétriat, Professor of Middle Eastern History at Sorbonne University, discussed the Ottoman campaign of 1871. His analysis of Ottoman archival materials, offered fresh insights into the region's complex geopolitical history.
Dr. Abdulrahman Alebrahim, Assistant Professor of History at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies and an expert on the history of the Middle East and the Arabian Peninsula, highlighted the importance of personal documents in his session "An Inside Look: Family and Private Archives and Their Role in Reconstructing Gulf History." His research demonstrated how family archives and memoirs provide non-institutional perspectives that can challenge traditional historical accounts.
The seminar was moderated by Dr. Moez Dridi, Senior Archivist at Qatar National Library, who provided an overview of the seminar’s theme.
"This seminar underscores Qatar National Library's ongoing commitment to re-examining the history of the Arabian Gulf through archival research and personal documents," Dr. Moez Dridi said. "By engaging with primary sources, we challenge conventional historical narratives and uncover new dimensions of Qatar's past. We hope this event inspires further academic research and contributes to a broader, more inclusive dialogue about the region's history."
The seminar is part of QNL’s broader efforts to promote research on Qatar and the region’s history.
