The next major foreign intervention in Bahrain came at the beginnin o the 16t century when the Portuguese naval fleets arrived, swith crushin the sma local population in Manama an the surroondin auries. Bahrain Fort wis biggit durin this era, probably tae keep oot the Persians who nivertheless managed a series o invasions as the whole island alternatit atween the Portuguese, Persians, an Omanis for the follaein twa centuries. Ance the Persians eventually forced the ither twa oot, it wis no lang afore the Al Khalifa faimily appeared frae nearbi Qatar, tae tak control o the whole o the island at the end o the 18t century. The new rulers, whose dynasty continues tae this day, sought pertection against the Persians frae the Breetish Empire, which bi that time haed establisht its hegemony in hintle o the Middle East, an Manama entered a period o colonial influence.  Colonial interest anerlie increased when ile wis discovered 30 km (19 mi) sooth o Manama in the centre o the island an first extractit in 1931. Efter Warld War II, Bahrain muived slowly towards unthirldom an eventually in 1971 the Breetish pulled oot leavin Manama in chairge o its awn affairs. This wis the beginnin o a period that haes seen it grow an flourish primarily due tae the considerable walth accumulatit throu ile production an processin.