The remarkable account of Daniel Saunders 18th century shipwreck on the south coast of Arabia. New to this edition are modern colour photographs. A brief introduction to the period helps set the scene.
In 1763, the Dutch ship Amstelveen set sail from the Dutch East Indies for Muscat, Oman. Through a combination of human error and rough seas, the ship never made it to port, sinking off the southern coast of Oman. The thirty surviving crew members then faced a trek across a desolate desert landscape to Muscat. Drawing on the logbook of Cornelis Eyks, the ship's only surviving officer, Klaas Doornbos tells the story of the men's journey across the Gulf of Oman desert, their encounters with the country's inhabitants, and their struggle to survive. Quoting extensively from Eyks's logbook, Doornbos describes how the sailors, barefoot and almost naked, walked hundreds of miles in the blazing sun in the hope of reaching civilization. Some of the men died on the way, while the fate of others is uncertain. It was not until 1766 that Eyks and the remaining men reached Muscat. Throughout Doornbos uses Eyks's logbook - the oldest remaining European account of the area - to reveal much about the desert coast of Oman and its people.
Richly illustrated reconstruction - equal parts social history, anthropology, and survival chronicle - of the journey of 30 castaways from the Dutch ship Amstelveen.
Author: William Foxwell Albright Centennial Conference
Publisher: Eisenbrauns
ISBN: 093146496X
Category: History
Page: 422
View: 813
Sixteen essays from the Albright conference held at the Johns Hopkins University charting the course of ancient Near Eastern studies in the twenty-first century. This landmark volume is essential reading for both students and scholars.
The past ten years have seen rapid growth in the economic and maritime importance of the Arabian GCC states and an equally rapid modernisation of their domestic laws. Nevertheless, much of the maritime law and procedure in the region remains unknown or misunderstood both outside and even inside the region. Since the region is likely to remain significant in terms of maritime commerce, a better understanding of the law and regulations is required. The Maritime Laws of Arabian Gulf Cooperation States is intended as a guide not only for lawyers concerned with maritime law in the Gulf region, but also for all sectors of the shipping community with an involvement in the region. After a brief description of the historical maritime and legal background, Volume I discusses in detail the operation and application of GCC maritime law. The major areas are analysed and placed in the context of the accepted regime of international maritime law. The author finally draws some important general conclusions and looks to the future of maritime law in the Gulf - including the movement for the unification of the laws of the GCC. Volume II of the work contains translations of the major GCC maritime legislation as well as tables of International Conventions that have been ratified by the GCC States.
History holds a lot in its pages. But till when can truth be hidden? Neel is a cop investigating the mysterious death of a famous film director. In the middle of a divorce case with his wife Avantika and amidst thoughts of resigning from his job, will he be able to find the culprit? A five-hundred-year old sunken ship belonging to Vasco da Gama is discovered off the coast in Oman. It is well known that the ship sank with thousands of artefacts in it. Out of them, eight artefacts are missing in specific. Do they have some connection with the film director’s death? Neel tries to unearth the truth behind the missing artefacts to find clues to questions nobody else can answer. Join Neel as he tries to find the truth behind 8! 1 ship; 2 deaths; 3 cops; 400 murders; 500 years; 60 days; 7 countries; 8 artefacts – Let the adventure begin!
This handbook brings together a mix of established and emerging international scholars to provide valuable analytical insights into how China’s growing Middle East presence affects intra-regional development, trade, security, and diplomacy. As the largest extra-regional economic actor in the Middle East, China is the biggest source of foreign direct investment into the region and the largest trading partner for most Middle Eastern states. This portends a larger role in political and security affairs, as the value of Chinese assets combined with a growing expatriate population in the region demands a more proactive role in contributing to regional order. Exploring the effect of these developments, the expert contributors also consider the reverberations in great power politics, as the United States, Russia, India, Japan, and the European Union also have considerable interests in the region. The book is divided into four sections: • Historical and policy context • State and regional case studies • Trade and development • International relations, security, and diplomacy. This volume is an essential reference for scholars and policy-makers in the fields of international relations, political sociology, international political economy, and foreign policy analysis. Area studies specialists in Middle Eastern Studies, China Studies, and East Asian Studies will also find it an invaluable resource.
The nation of Oman has been an important trading location throughout history. Its location on the Arabian Peninsula and its rich oil reserves have played a part in the development of its healthy economy. These and other important facts about this small but fascinating Muslim nation are presented to readers through informative text and vibrant, full-color photographs. Common curriculum topics—from geography to government—are touched on, but readers also explore the many ways the people of Oman have fun, including the sports they play, the holidays the celebrate, and the foods they eat—complete with recipes!
David Mearns has discovered some of the world's most fascinating and elusive shipwrecks. From the mighty battlecruiser HMS Hood to the crumbling wooden skeletons of Vasco da Gama's 16th century fleet, David has searched for and found dozens of sunken vessels in every ocean of the world. The Shipwreck Hunter is an account of David's most intriguing and fascinating finds. It details both the meticulous research and the mid-ocean stamina and courage required to find a wreck miles beneath the sea, as well as the moving human stories that lie behind each of these oceanic tragedies. Combining the derring-do of Indiana Jones with the precision of a surgeon, in The Shipwreck Hunter David Mearns opens a porthole into the shadowy depths of the ocean.
This book explores how houses are created, maintained and conceptualized in southern Oman. Based on long-term research in the Dhofar region, it draws on anthropology, sociology, urban studies and architectural history. The chapters consider physical and functional aspects, including regulations governing land use, factors in siting houses, architectural styles and norms for interior and exterior decorating. The volume also reflects on cultural expectations regarding how and when rooms are used and issues such as safety, privacy, social connectedness and ease of movement. Houses and residential areas are situated within the fabric of towns, comparison is made with housing in other countries in the Arabian peninsula, and consideration is given to notions of the ‘Islamic city’ and the ‘Islamic house’. The book is valuable reading for scholars interested in the Middle East and the built environment.
One of the last remote corners of the Arabian Peninsula, Oman has only recently permitted tourism, fearing it would engulf the local culture before it was ready. Today a growing number of visitors are discovering a land of awe-inspiring natural landscapes: mountains, ravines, cliffs, canyons, desert and coastline sweltering under the Middle Eastern sun. In this fully revised and updated Bradt guide, author Diana Darke describes in detail the archaeological wonders, nature reserves and world-class diving sites of this spellbinding sultanate. Visitors can soak up the spicy, perfumed souk atmosphere, watch a camel race or camp out with the Bedouin under the stars. Brimming with up-to-date information on restaurants and bars, hotels, sports facilities and trip itineraries, Bradt's Oman has everything for the traveller who wants to explore the land beyond the myth.
The Sultanate of Oman is one of the few "good news" stories to have emerged from the Middle East in recent memory. This book traces the narrative of a little-known and relatively stable Arab country whose history of independence, legacy of interaction with diverse cultures, and enlightened modern leadership have transformed it in less than fifty years from an isolated medieval-style potentate to a stable, dynamic, and largely optimistic country. At the heart of this fascinating story is Oman’s sultan, Qaboos bin Sa’id, friend to both East and West, whose unique leadership style has resulted in both domestic and foreign policy achievements during more than four decades in office. Exploring Oman from a historical perspective, Funsch examines how the country’s unique blend of tradition and modernization has enabled it to succeed while others in the region have failed. Accounts of the author’s own experiences with Oman’s transformation add rich layers of depth, texture, and personality to the narrative.
