The Gulf has experienced influences from the outside world since the 18th century. Interaction with communities from other regions is evidenced in modern attributes across Arab countries. Specifically, this research seeks to identify Zanzibar and Oman’s relationship during the beginning of the 19th century (Bartlet, 2019). It is important to note that the latter country acquired full control of Portugal’s Indian Ocean trade route between 1698 and 1710 (Al-Issa, 2020).
Zanzibar was considered a strategic administrative territory for the Sultans after the capital was moved from Muscat to Stone Town (O’Dell, 2020). This movement of people from different cultural backgrounds also influenced music, art, culture, and delicacies. Individuals of African origin were captured by the Arabs and sold to wealthy people in a profitable business. The slave trade between the Gulf and Africa resulted in varying socio-cultural and political exchanges evidenced between Oman and Zanzibar during the Indian Ocean slave trade period.
The Indian Ocean influences travelled to the Gulf during the slave trade period. Wealthy Arab families purchased captured individuals from African regions, especially central and eastern Africa. In this context, captured slaves were moved via Zanzibar, which played a strategic role in ensuring control over trade routes. Cultural practices such as Zanzibar’s food traditions became distributed across Arab families who acquired slaves during the trade. During the 17th and 19th century, Oman engaged in various exchanges with Indian Ocean influences (Al-Issa, 2020). For instance, the slave trade enhanced economic and political power among rich Arabs.
It was fundamental for the Sultan to facilitate a secure and peaceful co-existence between overseas territories. Slave trade was key in acquiring political power obtained from profitable economic activities. Oman needed to solidify its Indian Ocean presence by shifting its capital to modern-day Zanzibar (Bartlet, 2019). Most importantly, the slave trade facilitated individuals’ movement to the Gulf, resulting in socio-cultural exchanges with the outside world.
Additionally, Indian Ocean influences moved to the Gulf for administrative roles and responsibilities. In 1840, Oman’s Sultan moved his capital from Muscat to Stone Town in Zanzibar. Slave trade practices were abolished across all British territories and advocated victims’ return (Kara, 2020). Therefore, it was fundamental that officials from Oman’s political administration oversee this practice’s end. The trade proceeded illegally, nonetheless, contributing to further movement of slaves across the Gulf regions.
There are imminent administrative duties assigned to officials after the capital was moved to Zanzibar. The Sultan required active and objective coordination for all acquired territories. It is during political events, for example, that the reigning would experience overseas culture in music or art as depicted in Zanzibar. The Indian Ocean was a strategic route used by the Portuguese for many decades in trade practices (O’Dell, 2020). Oman was also dedicated to securing its empire by ensuring effective implementation of administrative duties in all territories.
Socio-cultural practices also contributed to Zanzibar’s Indian Ocean influence on Oman. The movement of slaves made the region multicultural in diverse dimensions. For instance, spices originating from the island became common among the social and political elite, including the Sultan. The locals were thrilled by the cooking spices obtained from Zanzibar (Bartlet, 2019). This notes that socio-cultural practices between the two regions played a vital role in modern geopolitical intervention by Oman. In essence, Omanis are considered welcoming and liberal to outside communities in comparison with other gulf nations.
The country facilitates international peace talks due to its cultural tolerance among conflicting parties. The exchange of these values during the Indian Ocean slave trade era was critical in improving leadership practices among succeeding sultans (O’Dell, 2020). Most importantly, the constant movement of Omanis and individuals from Zanzibar contributed to socio-cultural changes in the two countries.
Abolishment of the slave trade across British territories was critical in achieving political independence among acquired territories. However, it was fundamental for Africans working as slaves to consider alternatives due to the fact that formal employment required academic and professional experience. Slaves working in plantations were expected to upgrade their skills for official duties in operational sections. Slave Trade across the Indian Ocean continued even after its abolishment in 1830 (Al-Issa, 2020). Wise locals were lured to move to Oman for firsthand practical knowledge regarding certain professional qualification.
Expertise was then used within Sultan’s territories, which required development and growth. For instance, retired architects returned home and built similar structures evidenced in the Gulf. Similarities in masonry and carpentry are imminent between the two communities, evidenced in shared professional values. This has been evidenced in historic architectural designs present in Stone Town. Consequently, many individuals moved to the Gulf to obtain both educational and professional experience.
Religious education constituted a vital source of socio-cultural values among individuals in the Gulf region. This faith facilitates the development of certain virtues that all followers ought to depict. The influence of Gulf nations in other territories included religious education. Individuals were taken through strict classes for learning community values for spiritual growth among individuals (World Monument Fund, 2016).
Indian Ocean slave trade introduced Africans to Oman, who acquired essential knowledge on personal conduct. This education was important for integrating newly-arrived individuals into the region. For instance, all individuals needed to participate in prayers to integrate with the locals (O’Dell, 2020). This allowed Omanis to change the religious perspectives of captured persons who had different spiritual beliefs. For instance, worshipping and praying sessions among the slaves influenced social treatment from masters. Some practices also influenced the locals learning from the slaves, including cultural art.
The Omanis facilitated the prompt and successful adaptation of slaves using administrative practices evidenced across the Gulf. Historical powerful Arab empires considered overseas territories socially, politically, and economically profitable (Kara, 2020). The Sultan ruling a vast territory was titled to enact and implement administrative policies that determined interaction at distinct levels. For instance, the Sultan made security decisions by ordering the mobilization of troops from all territories. This was critical in ensuring coordinated defense against strong European nations engaging in the Indian Ocean slave trade (Al-Issa, 2020).
In essence, administrative policies controlled social conduct among all individuals. People were expected to oblige by the land’s rules and laws for peaceful co-existence and social growth. For instance, the dressing was standardized among women to ensure compliance with public engagement’s recommended social rules. Consequently, these regulations allowed Omanis to influence moral and ethical change in conduct among slaves.
In addition, business activities also played a significant role in socio-cultural exchanges between Oman and Zanzibar. As mentioned before, the Indian Ocean slave trade resulted in movement of Africans in the Eastern coastline to Gulf territories. Business activities involved selling captured slaves to wealthy locals who used them for varying manual roles. For instance, many captured men worked in wheat plantations as forced casual laborers.
It is during trading activities that the Omanis influenced the socio-cultural beliefs among the slaves (O’Dell, 2020). In essence, successful business ventures were based on religious faith, and trust developed from practicing similar values. For instance, Omanis preferred working with fellow religious colleagues to ensure trust and confidence in a transaction. Consequently, business activities contributed to the channel used by Gulf empires to adapt slaves to their individual needs.
Authoritarian practices in Oman also contributed to the social adaption of slaves to Gulf values. For instance, strict and corporal punishment against wrongdoers among slaves was intended to send a message of fear and authority. Slave practices ensured that captured men and women were obliged to employer requirements and instructions (Kara, 2020). Failure to comply with administrative or political rules resulted in harsh punishment, which attracted shame and indignity among victims. During the Indian Ocean slave trade, Africans traveling to Oman experienced harsh authoritative practices abroad (World Monument Fund, 2016).
In essence, engaging in illegal activity as stipulated by the authority would warrant tough measures, including execution. It was vital for slaves to adapt to these regulations to ensure peaceful co-existence in a working environment. Disciplinary action against captured persons ensured absolute respect to the rule of law followed by locals (O’Dell, 2020). Slave practices were instrumental in controlling social and psychological behavior between Omanis and Africans from Zanzibar.
The presence of African slaves in Oman resulted in notable cultural impacts depicted in modern Gulf nations. For instance, the food culture was changed with the introduction of spices from Zanzibar. Traditionally, this region depended on wheat for staple foods among both farmers and herders. Individuals from this region make varieties of wheat products as a tradition shared through generations (Al-Issa, 2020).
The introduction of African slaves working as cooks transformed the food culture among locals. Integration of spices from different natural sources was appealing to Omanis who strived to achieve similar levels. In essence, some cultural values changed in the Gulf due to the Indian Ocean slave trade (Kara, 2020). Aside from food, many Omanis were attracted by music created by individuals from Africa. Most importantly, these communities influenced the modern language used in the Gulf, especially in Oman.
From an economic perspective, the Indian Ocean slave trade influenced the modern Gulf economy. This discussion notes that African slaves that worked in wheat plantations played a vital economic role in providing food to the population. The Sultan advanced his territorial powers by ensuring sufficient food security for all territories for proper governance. Economic activities involving the slaves were profitable due to low or cheap labor offered by captured Africans (Bartlet, 2019). Trading activities in the East African coastline played a substantial responsibility in transforming some cultural values among transacting individuals.
For instance, business ethics of trust and confidence resulted in transformed attributes among local moral values. Unfortunately, the master-slave relationship between Gulf locals and African slaves was dishonest and victimized the latter in many instances. Most importantly, this influenced modern trading practices, which tend to discriminate against stakeholders based on color.
Additionally, Omanis transformed some of their social values after the Indian Ocean slave trade ended in 1830. It is worth noting that the practice was considered illegal and could attract severe punishment from western countries (Bartlet, 2019). Intercultural exchanges in social practices such as weddings and music contributed to the attributes of modern-day Oman. It is common to find both countries organizing entertainment events. This has been evidenced in Zanzibar, where musicians produce their popular videos in Oman. These social events have transformed socio-cultural attributes among generations from each region.
It is essential to acknowledge that the transfer of Oman’s capital to Zanzibar was administratively significant. For instance, it implied that approval of marriages or certain rituals had to be authorized by the Sultan’s administrative officials in Stone Town (World Monument Fund, 2016). The social influence of the Indian Ocean influences resulted in cultural conflicts between older and newer generations.
Traditional leadership practices in overseas territories had to end as new incoming authorities had strong political and military power. Africans residing along the east coastline had to learn leadership practices from their rules. The slave trade period resulted in Oman’s vital political transformation when the capital was moved away from Muscat (Bartlet, 2019). It implied that administrative regulations would be acquired from an overseas territory that was considered strategically useful for protecting the Indian Ocean trade routes. Western countries posed a major threat to the political influence of the Sultan after he was assassinated towards the end of the 19th century (World Monument Fund, 2016). The two sons who politically administered each territory contributed to political changes in both Oman and Zanzibar.
In conclusion, the Indian Ocean slave trade resulted in Africans’ movement to both Europe and the Gulf. Many individuals were captured and sold to wealthy Arab families. The socio-cultural interaction between the two communities resulted in fundamental changes. This discussion notes that both population categories were impacted socially, as evidenced in modern shared values. The political change evidenced in Zanzibar is also imminent in Oman as both territories were under one rule (Bartlet, 2019). This is to acknowledge that cultural practices played a significant role in adapting outsiders into the Gulf community. Tough disciplinary measures against lawbreakers were critical in ensuring strict adherence to the law. Most importantly, the intercultural exchange of ethical values contributed greatly to social progress between Omanis and individuals from Zanzibar.
References
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Bartlet, C. (2019). Oman & Zanzibar 2019. [An ancient photograph of an Oman building in Central Stone Town]. Archeological Institute of America. Web.
Kara, T. (2020). Pray to the archive: Abstracting history in Zanzibar. International Journal of Islamic Architecture, 9(2), 265-285. Web.
O’Dell, E. J. (2020). Yesterday is not gone: Memories of slavery in Zanzibar and Oman in memoirs, fiction, and film. Journal of Global Slavery, 5(3), 357-401. Web.
World Monument Fund. (2016). Lecture – heritage under siege from Aleppo to Zanzibar, October 2014. [Video]. YouTube. Web.