Omani East Africa

Omani East Africa was an empire in Swahili Coast and East Africa (Central and Southern Africa) that lasted from 1698 to 1856 CE, about 158 years. Its people spoke Arabic languages (Arabic-speaking states).

The Ya'rubi and then Busaidi rulers of Oman claimed the Swahili coast after 1698. Sultan Said bin Sultan moved his court to Zanzibar in 1840 and built a clove plantation economy worked by enslaved Africans.

See Omani East Africa on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

1698 to 1856 CE

Duration

158 years

Type

Empire

Region

Swahili Coast and East Africa, Central and Southern Africa

Language family

Arabic

Capital

Muscat, then Zanzibar (1840)

Came from

• Portuguese Swahili coast 1505 to 1698 CE

Became

• Sultanate of Zanzibar 1856 to 1964 CE

Events in Central and Southern Africa during its time

• 1698 Omanis take Fort Jesus
• 1816 Shaka becomes Zulu king
• 1836 The Great Trek begins

Neighbours in Central and Southern Africa

• Swahili city-states c. 800 to 1700 CE
• Kingdom of Kongo c. 1390 to 1914 CE
• Zulu Kingdom 1816 to 1897 CE
• Kingdom of Buganda c. 1300 to 1966 CE
• Bunyoro-Kitara c. 1400 to 1899 CE
• Portuguese Mozambique 1505 to 1975 CE
• Portuguese Angola 1575 to 1975 CE
• Mutapa Empire c. 1430 to 1760 CE
• Luba Empire c. 1585 to 1889 CE
• Kingdom of Imerina c. 1540 to 1817 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Republic of Venice c. 697 to 1797 CE, Europe
• Holy Roman Empire 962 to 1806 CE, Europe
• Ethiopian Empire (Solomonic dynasty) 1270 to 1974 CE, North and West Africa
• Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE, Europe
• Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE, Middle East
• Portuguese Empire 1415 to 1999 CE, Europe
• Ayutthaya Kingdom 1351 to 1767 CE, Southeast Asia
• Mughal Empire 1526 to 1857 CE, South Asia
• Portuguese Brazil 1500 to 1815 CE, South America
• New Spain 1521 to 1821 CE, Mesoamerica and Caribbean

Questions