Early History
Oman’s colossal history (archaeological evidence suggests that parts of the country have been inhabited since the Stone Age) tracks from eras of remarkable prosperity and regional influence to self-imposed isolation, civil strife, foreign occupation and pretty much everything in between.
From as far back as 5000 BC, the land amassed great wealth due to its trade in frankincense, myrrh and, later on, copper. With this wealth, however, came foreign interest, and between the 6th century BC and the 7th century AD the country fell under the control of three Persian dynasties – the Achaemenids, Parthians and Sassanids – before becoming totally enamored with Islam. Introduced by Amr ibn al-As, a disciple of the Prophet Mohammed, the faith flourished under the Bani Nabhan dynasty for 500 years.
Recent History
At the beginning of the 16th century, keen to exploit the disunity that had spread through the country and expand
