Major

From as early as 5000 BC, Oman has at various times played a prominent role in the history of both Arabia and the area beyond. The following are some key dates in Oman’s history:

Prehistory: Evidence of isolated coastal and inland settlements. Graves at Ras al Hamra dated at 4th millennium BC.

ca. 3000-2000 BC: Oman supplies Dilmun (Bahrain), Mesopotamia and Indus Valley with a range of raw materials including copper. Period of complex burials (Bat tombs near lbri and Tower tombs in the Eastern Hajar).

ca. 2000-1000 BC: Copper boom declines. Persians occupy Oman and settle along the coast. Arrival of Arab tribes.

ca. 1000-300 BC: Camels domesticated,falaj System introduced and rapid growth of agriculture. Cyrus the Grate conquers Oman.

300 BC-226 AD: Peak of trading of frankincense from Sumhuram in Dhofar. Azdites tribes under Malik bin Fahm arrive in Oman and defeat Persians.

AD 226-640: Persians regain control of the Batinah coast (Sassanid period). The Al Azd continue to rule the Interior.

630: Conversion of Oman to Islam.

751: Julanda bin Masud elected first Imam.

8th-10th century: Arab trading and seafaring rapidly expands with Sohar as the center of maritime activities.

1250-1507: Island-state of Hormuz establishes sovereignty over the coast of Oman.

1507-1624: Portuguese under Albuquerque capture Qalhat, Quriyat, Muscat, Sohar and Hormuz, and control trade in the Indian Ocean. Forts Mirani and Jalali in Muscat built.
1624: Nasir bin Murshid, first Imam of the Ya-ruba dynasty elected.Portuguese drive back to Mutrah-Muscat.