Part 1
1. Why was control of the region important to the British and French? The original purpose of the British in controlling the Persian Gulf coast was to protect its strategic sea route to its empire in India. The safety of the region and the coast from piracy and other forms of conflicts, including conflicts between and among sheikdoms, jeopardized the free flow of trade in the region. To ensure the free flow of trade by freeing vital sea routes from piracy and conflicts, the British entered into a treaty with the sheikdoms in the Persian Gulf outlawing war within ...
