history of Oman
Quick Summary
Oman's history is marked by periods of expansion and external influence. The Yaʿrubid dynasty, established around 1624, expelled the Portuguese and expanded Omani influence along the Indian Ocean coast, including to Mombasa, Zanzibar, and Kilwa. This era saw Oman become a significant power in the region, with its fleets feared by European merchants.1
Persian forces captured Muscat in 1743, leading to dynastic disputes. A leader named Aḥmad ibn Saʿīd liberated Oman from the Persians and founded the Al Bū Saʿīd dynasty in 1749. This period also saw a crystallization of tribal political alignments within Oman.1
Earlier, in the late 7th century, Oman had become associated with the Ibāḍites, a moderate Khārijite sect. Oman experienced periods of independence and subjection to various powers, including the Abbasids and their supporters. During the 18th century, the growing influence of the East India Company and British power in India began to impact Oman's coastal politics and commerce. The Gulf of Oman serves as a crucial shipping route for oil from the Persian Gulf region.213
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history of ArabiaOmanIn the last decades of the 7th century, the Ibāḍites (Ibāḍiyyah), regarded as a moderate Khārijite sect, conquered southern Arabia, established a Kindite imam in Hadhramaut, occupied Sanaa, and took Mecca and Medina, before the Umayyads drove them back to Hadhramaut. Oman had early…
Read MoreIn the last decades of the 7th century, the Ibāḍites (Ibāḍiyyah), regarded as a moderate Khārijite sect, conquered southern Arabia, established a Kindite imam in Hadhramaut, occupied Sanaa, and took Mecca and Medina, before the Umayyads drove them back to Hadhramaut. Oman had early…
Read More- history of ArabiaOmani expansion
In Oman events took an independent course. The Yaʿrubid dynasty—founded about 1624 when a member of the Yaʿrub tribe was elected imam—expelled the Portuguese from Muscat and set to harrying Portuguese possessions on the Indian coast. Embarking on expansion overseas—to Mombasa in 1698,…
Read MoreIn Oman events took an independent course. The Yaʿrubid dynasty—founded about 1624 when a member of the Yaʿrub tribe was elected imam—expelled the Portuguese from Muscat and set to harrying Portuguese possessions on the Indian coast. Embarking on expansion overseas—to Mombasa in 1698,…
Read More - history of ArabiaArabia since 1962
In Oman, after a palace revolution in 1970, the new sultan, Qaboos, opened a program of modernization, welfare, and reform. Much oil revenue initially had to be devoted to repelling rebel attacks, supported from Yemen (Aden), but the rebels were defeated in 1975. A mutual accord…
Read MoreIn Oman, after a palace revolution in 1970, the new sultan, Qaboos, opened a program of modernization, welfare, and reform. Much oil revenue initially had to be devoted to repelling rebel attacks, supported from Yemen (Aden), but the rebels were defeated in 1975. A mutual accord…
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ZanzibarHistory…the Arabian coast, including the Omani capital of Muscat. The purpose of the Portuguese, however, was largely commercial rather than politically imperial, and, when their power dwindled in the course of the 17th century, they left few marks of their stay.
Read More…the Arabian coast, including the Omani capital of Muscat. The purpose of the Portuguese, however, was largely commercial rather than politically imperial, and, when their power dwindled in the course of the 17th century, they left few marks of their stay.
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Sultanate of Zanzibar…Arabian state of Muscat and Oman in the late 17th century; Saʿīd ibn Sulṭān, who created a flourishing commercial empire along the East African coast, made it his capital in 1832. In 1861 Zanzibar was separated from Muscat and Oman and became an independent sultanate, which controlled the vast African…
Read More…Arabian state of Muscat and Oman in the late 17th century; Saʿīd ibn Sulṭān, who created a flourishing commercial empire along the East African coast, made it his capital in 1832. In 1861 Zanzibar was separated from Muscat and Oman and became an independent sultanate, which controlled the vast African…
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TanzaniaPortuguese and Omani domination…of the Arab rulers of Oman. For more than a century those rulers left the government of Zanzibar to local hakims (governors). The first sultan to take up residence in Zanzibar was Sayyid Saʿīd ibn Sulṭān, who after several short visits settled there soon after 1830 and subsequently greatly extended…
Read More…of the Arab rulers of Oman. For more than a century those rulers left the government of Zanzibar to local hakims (governors). The first sultan to take up residence in Zanzibar was Sayyid Saʿīd ibn Sulṭān, who after several short visits settled there soon after 1830 and subsequently greatly extended…
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