Ancient times
Ancient times
Already in the third century, the eastern Arabian Peninsula was inhabited by the Umm an-Nar culture, whose territory extended from present-day UAE to the northern part of Oman. Important trading partners for this early culture were the Sumerians as well as the Indus Valley culture in present-day Pakistan. The land was then referred to as Magan and was limited to the present northern part of the sultanate. Little is known about the organization of this culture, aside from a mention by Naram-Sin of Akkad (2200 BC) about a victory over King Manium of Magan.
Due to the existing copper deposits in the country, Magan early gained significance, as copper was needed for the production of the very popular bronze at that time. At its peak between 2200 BC and 1900 BC, up to 4000 tons of copper were mined. At that time, the transport of various export goods primarily took place via sea routes.
When the Indus Valley culture declined around 1800 BC and direct trade with Mesopotamia ceased, Magan lost significance despite ongoing copper mining. This is likely due to the fact that Mesopotamia began sourcing copper mainly from Cyprus thereafter.
In the 6th century, the Persians conquered the coasts of Oman for the first time and built the famous irrigation system "Falaj". The Arab tribe of Azd from Yemen then expelled the Parthians from Oman in the 2nd century AD and settled there.
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Modern Era
The Portuguese began to establish small settlements, which were exemplary of the strategy in the Middle East. Yet even here, the Portuguese struggled to establish them long-term. Time and again, they had to defend themselves against the Ottomans, English, Persians, and Dutch. In 1650 AD, it was the Yaruba dynasty that initially unified Oman and expelled the Portuguese. This dynasty had a significant influence on East Africa, bringing great wealth through the slave trade and trade with India. A civil war, lasting about 25 years and resulting from power struggles, allowed the Persians to reemerg...
Military in Oman
The Commander-in-Chief of the Oman Armed Forces isHaitham ibn Tariq. The size of these armed forces is quite manageable. About 43,000 soldiers are active in the country, ensuring secure borders and – especially in recent years – due to the unrest in theneighboring countries of Oman, also ensuring that this unrest from Yemen and Saudi Arabia does not cross the border into Oman. Additionally, the military supports the police in maintaining order in the country. The army consists of four branches: - Land Forces - Artillery - Navy - Air Force There is no conscription in Oman; the army is a pu...
Sea turtles
Sea turtles and the coastal landscape of Oman have formed a symbiosis for thousands of years. These prehistoric reptiles are, however, threatened with extinction and are protected worldwide. For this reason, the government of Oman has established several nature reserves along the coast. The approximately 2000 km long coastline of the country serves as an important site for egg-laying and thus reproduction for sea turtles. It is the most important breeding ground for sea turtles in the Indian Ocean. Of the seven species of sea turtles that live worldwide, five nest on the beaches of Oman. This ...