The Omani Coffee Fleet and its Trade 1744-1832
Nahed Abdelkareem and Yousef Al-Gelany, Department of History, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman.
Abstract
In previous different historical eras Oman had become a real figure in the international trade activities in the region during the 18th century when the coffee trade spread out. And she was among one of these famous countries which gave herself the opportunity to be the first in dealing with this trade. So this research is an attempt to expose that role which was played by the Omani's, and the fame of the Omani fleet among all traders in this traffic. Moreover the research consist of an introduction for the main sources delt with the issue, a full background of the trade in the area, and explaining this Omani's commercial activity and involvement especially during the reign of the Al-bu-Saidi Dynasty from 1744-1832, with special reference to the political and military difficulties which faced this country in keeping her position intact.
The research ended with the following results:
1. The shortage of documents relating to this trade in Oman specially before the reign of the Al-bu-Saidi Dynasty 1744.
2. The flourishing of this trade in Oman during the Al-bu-Saidi Dynasty rule, helped by the political stability of this country and the importance of the trade.
3. It showes the large contribution of the Omani fleet carring coffee not only to Oman, but for many other countries, like the Ottoman Empire and Iraq. This fleet was divided into two, one called Muscati's fleet and the second Suri's fleet.
4. The Omani coffee trade had faced many difficulties in the region such as piracy from Persia and some Arab tribes in the Persian Gulf.
5. The trade had played a good role in building strong relationship between Oman and the Ottoman Empire directed against the enmities of Persia toward these two nations particularly in 1775.
The Omani-Coffee trade declined by the first quarter of the 19th century, due to the compotation of the rising power of Muhammad Ali, Great Britain after the occupation of Eden in 1839, and the interest showed by Sayyid Said bin Sultan in East Africa, when he established his new Capital Zanzibar in 1832, and started planting cloves there.