John Craven Wilkinson Book order

Focusing on the Omani and Arab perspectives, this book explores the European Scramble for Africa and its implications for East Africa. It highlights the historical connections between the Arabian Peninsula and Indian Ocean maritime activities, emphasizing the impact of the nineteenth-century global economy. The narrative delves into the establishment of an ivory trade in the continent's interior and the subsequent interactions between the Omanis, Swahili, and Europeans, providing a nuanced understanding of these intertwined histories.

This book is a study of the traditional relationships that exist in Oman between land and social organization, and how they have evolved. The author starts with the theme of aridity and, using the extensive literature of the 1200 year old Ibadi community to supplement his field work, shows how the techniques of water exploitation have influenced the country’s social organization and its political ideology. He describes how the settlement organization has evolved in two stages; the first in the years before Islam when the Persians irrigated the land using aflaj or horizontal water channels; the second after the Arabs had overthrown the Persians and, influenced by Ibadism, established a more democratic society dominated by a strong tribal structure in the villages. The tribal structure is then examined in detail and the author shows how close the links are between the Islamic ideology, land use, and social organization. As a contribution to the human geography of Oman as well as to general knowledge of the Middle East the book will interest Arabists, Islamic historians and social anthropologists, as well as hydrologists and geographers.

The narrative delves into a significant historical conflict in Oman during the 1950s and 1960s, focusing on the struggle for power between the Imam of the Ibadi sect and the Sultan. It explores the political and religious dimensions of their rivalry, shedding light on the implications for Oman's governance and societal structure. Through this examination, the book provides insights into the complexities of authority, identity, and the impact of leadership on the nation’s history.