Book Cover; Title; Contents; List of Figures, Maps and Tables; Preface; Acknowledgements; Conventions and Abbreviations; Introduction; Prelude to the rise of the Albusaidi Dynasty in East Africa; Oman's links with India and East Africa: historical problems and perspectives; Migrations and the interaction of commerce and religion in Omani and Swahili cultures; The prominence of the Banyans in Indian Ocean commerce; The importance of commerce to the early Albusaidi rulers; The emergence of Muscat as a political-commercial centre
Summary
The role of Oman in the Indian Ocean region prior to British domination; the author traces the tribal and religious dynamics of Omani politics, treating the area of influence as a geographical whole
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 247-269) and index