The pearling industry has long been a pillar industry in the Gulf in pre-oil era.With the help of long-distance trade of luxury goods,mainly pearls,the Gulf region has been closely integrated into the Indian Ocean regional economy and the Maritime Silk Road trade network long before the era of glo-balization.From the 1820s to the early 20th century,technological progress,the formation of the global e-conomic system,and the expansion of European colonialism jointly promoted the transformation of the Gulf pearling industry,which reoriented itself to a labor-intensive industry for the global middle-class con-sumers,thus laying the foundation of a century-long boom.Despite its complete decline after the 1930s,the century-long prosperity of pearling industry has left a profound mark on contemporary Gulf Arab coun-tries.By driving cross Gulf and trans-Indian Ocean population and capital flows,it has largely laid the foundation for the urban landscape and demographic composition of relevant countries,shaping the power balance between ruling families,merchant groups,and tribal forces,and leaving a lasting impact on the interaction patterns between relevant countries,Iran and the Indian Subcontinent.Currently utilized as an important cultural resource for the nation-building of the Gulf Arab countries,Gulf pearls can also provide a valuable link for China and related countries to deepen cultural exchanges.
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