Oman is not well known to Westerners, for various reasons, mostly because of an extended period of dormancy from the mid 1800s up until 1970 when Sultan Qaboos assumed leadership. But Oman has a long and proud history that extends back to the earliest of civilizations. Because of its location on the Indian Ocean with a coastline that stretches for over 1000 miles, Oman has left its mark on history as a nation of traders and explorers.

Records from ancient empires of Assyria and Mesopotamia attest to the dealings with a country known as Magan that was located near the modern day Omani coastal city of Sohar. Long before the arrival of Islam, Sohar was one of the greatest ports in all of the Middle East. ("Majan" comes from an Arabic word that means ship's hull.) Most people will not immediately recognize Oman, but they will assuredly recall one of Oman's most famous legendary heroes, Sindbad the Sailor, who presumably hailed from Sohar (in spite of other claims of nationality) and whose embroidered legends have made their way into the famous 1001 Arabian Nights Entertainments.

By 700 AD, the Omanis were sending ships as far as Canton, China and from time to time played animportant role in linking the civilizations of East and West via the "Silk Route." Travelers such as Marco Polo and the Tunisian Ibn Battuta attest to the greatness of Oman in their annals. By the 1800s, Oman's vast commercial empire stretched from Pakistan down the coast of Africa to Zanzibar. It was during this period that Oman's power and influence climaxed under the guidance of Sultan Said (the Great), the longest lived of the Al Busaid dynasty (52 years, 1804-1856) who became the first Arab leader to forge an alliance with the United States in 1840.

Since the 1850s, time and circumstances have not played kindly with Oman, but the country has emerged in the latter part of the 20th century as a major player on the world scene due to the economic renaissance spearheaded by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos. Today Oman is a thriving, bustling economy that has been referred to by some as a model for developing nations.

Because of its history as a trading society, the Omani people are an intriguing mix of races, mostly Arabic with Asian and African undertones, making it one of the most heterogeneous cultures in the Middle East.