The Gulf
Women at the Forge
While silversmithing has traditionally been the purview of men smithing and selling their wares in the souks, more and more of these traditional shops are shuttering their doors as men pursue salaried government jobs, and women step in to keep silversmithing traditions alive.
Gargeean’s Bittersweet Offerings
As the Gulf’s fiscal standing rose, be it by petroleum or fruitful economic planning, whether wanted or unwanted, the cultural expression of Gargeean transformed alongside it. It became more and more difficult to preserve the traditional customs in the face of capitalism’s relentless capacity to commercialize anything, and the day’s more religious connotations, and arguably its Islamic roots, were all but forgotten.
Archaeology Gives Clues on Monastic Life in the UAE
Two centuries later, so popular understanding has it, Islam swept over the Arabian Peninsula, and all inhabitants converted. But the archaeological record suggests a different picture: Find after find is showing that Christianity coexisted peacefully with the newer religion for centuries.