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Oman
has a fascinating history.
Geographically, it occupies a strategic
position in maritime trade. In the 8th
century, an Arab, bin Al Qassim, made
the first successful voyage from Oman to
Canton, China, and his route became the
major route followed by Omani ships
sailing from the ancient port city of
Sohar, which is believed to be the
birthplace of Sindbad the Sailor of
legend (One Thousand and One Nights).
Sohar port was wealthy and became known
as the greatest port in the Islamic
world. Sohar is located on the northern
coastal strip on the Batinah coast of
the Gulf of Oman, 150 km west of Muscat.
In the 15th century, the Portuguese
navigator Vasco da Gama, discovered the
sea route from Europe to India by way of
the Cape of Good Hope at the southern
tip of Africa. Da Gama’s journey was a
great historic event for it changed the
history and geography of the world. But
da Gama did not discover the route on
his own – a famous Omani sailor, Ahmad
bin Majid, navigated for da Gama on the
journey from East Africa to India.
The Portuguese seeking to control sea
trade, launched a brutal assault on
Oman’s major ports and made their base
in Hormuz. It took the Omanis 143 years
to drive the Portuguese out of their
country.
Oil was discovered in 1954 . . . but
modernization started only in the 1970s,
under the benevolent leadership of
Sultan Qaboos. Muscat, like the capitals
of the other GCC states, is fast
becoming a cosmopolitan city. However,
the people continue to practice
traditional customs, one of them being
traditional medicine.
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