A Study On The Development Of Muscat's Trade From The 17^th To 18^th Century

Muscat,the capital of Oman,is located on the west coast of the Arabian Peninsula.It holds the inlet and outlet of the Gulf and connects the Gulf,Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean.Before 1622,Due to its superior location,Muscat became an entrepot and a supply port for ships.After 1622,Muscat became an important military base and port for Portugal.The city developed further and trade flourished.After 1650,the Omani Arabs retaken Muscat,and the successive Sultans encouraged trade.Muscat trade entered a new period of development,which not only enhanced its position in trade with the Gulf,but also strengthened its role in trade with India,Africa,China and other countries.There are three parts in this paper besides the introduction and conclusion.First,it sums up the conditions for the rise of trade in Muscat and the reasons for its prosperity.Muscat's advantageous geographical position,the ancient commercial tradition and the international environment of maritime exploration and European colonization were the necessary conditions for the rise of its trade.The active trade policy of the Portuguese occupiers and indigenous rulers of scattern was the foundation of its prosperity.Stable and mature customs operation mode and strong navy escort are the guarantee of its prosperity.Secondly,it discusses the prosperity of Muscat trade in the 17 th and 18 th centuries.Starting in the early 17 th century,Muscat became increasingly important and trade routes expanded,attracting merchants from all over the world.The most typical of these was the Indian merchants,who relied on their religious advantages and not only participated in the trade of Muscat on a large scale,but also played an important role in the port contracting system and financial activities.In the second half of the 17 th century,as Oman's trade with the east coast countries of Africa flourished,so did the slave trade in Muscat.Finally,the effects of the trade boom are discussed.The active trade policy of the Portuguese occupiers and indigenous rulers in Muscat was the foundation of its prosperity.Stable and mature customs operation mode and strong navy escort are the guarantee of its prosperity.The trade boom had a huge impact on Muscat: it not only diversified the urban population and urban buildings,but also promoted Muscat's position in the gulf and Indian Ocean trade circle.