An ancient division of the Arabian peninsula. Like the Yemenis, Omanis have looked outward to the sea and took part in the Indian Ocean world. The Portuguese occupied part of the country from about 1500 until 1650. Following this the Omanis defeated the Portuguese in East Africa also. The Sultan of Muscat in the 19th century controlled Zanzibar and its sphere of influence into the interior of East Africa. At one time the Sultan moved his residence to Zanzibar before the two states became separated again. Oman came under British influence, but not as a formal protectorate.

In the 1960s the British engineered the overthrow of the Sultan who had refused to allow any modernization at all. They caused his son Qabus to be appointed as sultan.

At present Oman is a Sultanate, member of the Gulf Co-operation Council. Oil was discovered which has given it a moderate income. There is still considerable British influence, especially in the armed forces which have British advisors and trainers on contract paid by the Omani government.

During the 1970s there was a war with the then South Yemen over the ownership of the province of Dhofar and also an attempt to export the south Yemeni communist revolution to Oman. The war ended with the retention of control by Oman. The war was probably largely fought by British troops "on contract" to the Sultan. Oman is not as closely dominated by Saudi Arabia as the other Gulf states.

Arabic

Farsi

Absolute monarchy.

Oil producer but only on a moderate scale: that is, the country is not uncontrollably wealthy. This may be an advantage in the long run, as it makes the development of the non-oil economy important.

In the Jebel al Akhdar (Green mountain) there is rain where the mountains catch the monsoon.

One degree
Mountain area (Jebel al Akhdar) may get more rain from Monsoon

Two degrees
Some coastal land lost to sea level rise.