How an iridescent gem changed the face of Qatar

Before Qatar first struck "black gold" in 1939, life in the Gulf revolved around pearls. These iridescent gems of the deep shaped the culture, politics, regional relations and fortunes of its inhabitants over more than 7,000 years -- not least Qatar's ruling Al Thani family, who were the dominant force in the local pearling industry at its peak around the turn of the 20th century.