Oman in Brief:
The mountainous terrain of the Sultanate of Oman divides the country into several areas and consequently contributes to its cultural diversity.
The interior, rich with water and fertile land, produces a climate for farming and as a result a self-sufficient society has emerged and flourished. Is the foothills to the west and in the great describe beyond, nomadic people have then own, distinct lifestyle touring the desert under the harshest of climates.
Fishermen, sailors and merchants from their bases along the coat explore the outside world. Thus, the same geographical barriers that have hindered communication between Omanis in the past, have also created a rich cultural diversity that characterizes Oman’s various areas.
Historically, Oman has been associated with characters of legendary stature. The ancient tribes of AD are believed to have inhabited the southern part of Oman and made up the civilization of Ubar.
Ubar, the ‘lost city”, was rediscovered in the early 1990s.once basking in prosperity, Dating back to 5000 BC, the city is believed to have been built by king Shadad and the people of AD, and formed the center of the frankincense trade. Camel caravans once traveled on routes. Now buried beneath golden sands. Carrying their precious cargo through the Arabian Peninsula all the way to Jerusalem. Frankincense was burned during religious ceremonies. Historical stories document the Queen of Sheba’s offering of this sacred aromatic gum to king Solomon. The remains of the prosperous city of Ubar, with its massive walls and towers, are still under archeological excavation if the region of Dhofar in southern Oman. One of the great commodities of the ancient world, frankincense, is still used by the desert tribes of Shahr to keep away evil spirits.
The people of Shahr believe that they are the direct descendants of the people of AD, preserving to lead a life that has not changed for thousands of years.
Isolated in the harsh environment of these deserts, they have maintained their ancient culture, language, and songs. More ancient than Arabic and Hebrew, and has been called the “language of birds”.

Islam in Oman:
In the seventh century AD, a new dawn shone upon Oman with the rise of Islam. Around 630 AD, the Prophet Mohammed sent one of his messengers, Amr bin Al As, to ask Omanis to embrace the new faith. Oman was quick to embrace Islam, which sparked new life in the country and gave Omanis a renewed sense of direction and a reason for unity. Omanis played vital role in the spread of Islam to Southern Iraq and the eventual conquest of the Persian empire. Sixty years after the rise of Islam, the leader of the Uzdian tribe, Al Muhallan ibn Abi Sufra, gained control of Basra in Iraq, which subsequently became known as Basra Al Muhallab. Following the death of Al Muhallab in 702 AD, however, the Uzd’s fortune declined.


Majan Civilization:
Around the third millennium BC Oman appears in various documents as “Majan” a land whose seafaring people carried another commodity precious at the time: copper. Copper was in great demand in Sumerian cities, which referred to Majan as “The Mountain of copper”
From Majan came various other commodities valued in Mesopotamia such as wood and stone. Its shipwrights were specifically mentioned in Sumerian inscriptions of 2050 BC
This isolation continued until the first millennium when archeological sites excavated show that Oman came in contact with the Assyrian and Aryan empires. The Aryan civilization is believed to have renewed trade with Idea where Oman served as a link carrying wood, copper and spices.
The cost notable event that affected Oman in pre-Islamic was the collapse of the dam of Ma’rib in Yemen. This prompted several tribes, the most important of which was the Uzd, to migrate north to Oman. Mush of Oman was under the occupation of the Persians, whom the Uzd fought to regain control of the territory.

Omani Forts:

Fort Jalali

Has a formidable wall around it and access is only possible from the harbor side, up a steep flight of steps. No longer used as a prison, it has been completely renovated and is used as a museum of Omani heritage and culture for visiting heads of state and royalty. Neither fort is normally open to the public.

Fort Mirani

The western fort, like its twin Fort Jalali-the eastern fort at the other side of the harbor, was not the first fortification on the site. The rocky hilltops were strategically important long before the Portuguese became active in the area. However, both these present day forts were rebuilt by the Portuguese. Fort Mirani was completed in 1587 and still has the remains of a chapel, complete with a receptacle for holy water built into the wall. If you look over the harbor wall from the entrance to the fort you can see the name of visiting ships painted on the rocks beneath Fort Jalali.

Bait Fransa

The museum was originally built around 160 years ago as a residence for Ghaliya Bint –Salim Bin Sultan, a niece of the ruler Sultan Said Bin –Sultan. The house is delightful tall building built around a courtyard and reflecting a mixture of Arabic and Indian styles.
The ceilings, constructed of wooden beams with palm coverings, complement the arched windows with their delicate lattice plasterwork. The wooden window screens open in sections to control ventilation and sunlight