Page 11 - Protestant Missionary Activity in the Arabian Gulf

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CHAPTER I:

DHAYIF ALLAH & THE EIRST PIONEERS

(1889-1914)

The 19th. Century was the heyday for western expansion

and colonialism. Under the protective umbrella of the Pax

Britannica and using the newly-found economic power of the

"Industrial Revolution," the West was able to expand its

spheres of influence deep into Africa, Asia and the Indian

subcontinent. The explorers, traders, soldiers, and mission­

aries marched on together from conquest to conquest. At times

it was difficult to determine whether trade followed the flag

or the flag was merely accompanying the most enterprising

traders. But there was no doubt that the colonial expansion

had both economic and military sides to it. Missionary activity

was also an integral part of this European expansion. By the

end of the 19th. Century, Western political spheres of influ­

ence had been firmly established from the Yang-tze to the

Nile, London had become the financial capital of the world,

and Christian missions had been set up from Taipei to Dakar.

The Islamic Middle East, although greatly influenced

by these developments in economic, political, and military

terms, remained comparatively untouched by Christian mission­

ary activity. Firm in its own religious beliefs and proud of

its cultural heritage, it was less susceptible than other

areas of the non-Western world to the cultural dimension of

the colonial onslaught. Evangelistic efforts had been made
of course. The British Church Missionary Society had sent a

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