His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, a member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, has unveiled a significant new work titled “The Portuguese in the Sea of Oman: Events in Annals from 1497 to 1757,” published by the Qasimi Publications.
This announcement occurred during his visit to the 29th Muscat International Book Fair held under the theme “Cultural Diversity Enriches Civilizations” at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Center. He was accompanied by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority, among other dignitaries.
The delegation included Khalid bin Hilal Al Busaidi, Minister of the Diwan of Royal Court in Oman, Mohamed bin Nakhira Al Dhaheri, ambassador of the UAE to Oman, Abdullah Mohammed Al Owais, Director of the Culture Department, and Ahmad bin Raqad Al Ameri, CEO of the Sharjah Book Authority, along with other senior officials. His Highness was welcomed by Sayyid Seif bin Jalindi bin Seif Al Said, Dr. Abdullah bin Nasser Al Harasi, Minister of Information, Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Saidi, Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, Dr. Saud bin Hamoud Al Habsi, Minister of Agricultural, Fisheries and Water Resources, and Dr. Mohammed bin Said Al Maamari, Minister of Awqaf and Religious Affairs.
During his visit, His Highness also explored the pavilion from North Sharqiyah Governorate, the fair’s guest of honor, where he listened to a presentation by Mahmoud bin Yahya Al Dhahli, Governor of North Sharqiyah, regarding the governorate’s participation and the cultural heritage showcased by the pavilion. He viewed a video highlighting the diverse geography and environment of North Sharqiyah.
Commemorative Sculpture
The Governor of North Sharqiyah presented His Highness with a commemorative sculpture titled “Threshold of the Door,” inspired by Omani architecture. He also received several gifts and souvenirs from exhibiting entities as a gesture of appreciation for his visit.
His Highness toured the exhibition featuring participation from 35 countries and 674 publishing houses, becoming acquainted with the involvement of the Omani News Agency, the Omani Ministry of Information, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth, and the Omani National Archives, engaging with participating intellectuals and writers.
His Highness signed his latest publication, “The Portuguese in the Sea of Oman: Events in Annals from 1497 to 1757,” which consists of 21 volumes in Arabic and an equal number in English. Each volume ranges from 400 to 600 pages, totaling 10,500 pages and encompassing a collection of documents and letters, with a grand total of 1,138 documents sourced from various archival centers worldwide.
Rare Publications
The book presents a chronological account, with each volume containing events that occurred each year, arranged as annals. Each volume includes a research guide at the end, along with annotations for the documents. In addition to letters, this historic work features complete books and rare publications by Portuguese authors being published for the first time.
“The Portuguese in the Sea of Oman: Events in Annals from 1497 to 1757” is considered a priceless historical treasure, documenting significant historical events in the Sea of Oman, observing the maneuvers of Portuguese fleets as they made their way to India, and detailing all occurrences and battles from a period spanning 260 years.
This work unveils previously unspoken historical facts, backed by rigorous academic research, a thorough study supported by evidence, and the relentless efforts of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi to complete this monumental achievement.
His Highness adopted a unique methodology for this extraordinary annal, accumulating a vast collection of Portuguese, Dutch, and British manuscripts. The process of gathering these documents took considerable time, including stages of scientific work such as sorting by year, classification, and translation from Old Portuguese to Modern Portuguese, then into English, and finally into Arabic.
A Journey Through Time
The volumes of “The Portuguese in the Sea of Oman: Events in Annals from 1497 to 1757” take readers on a historical journey, showcasing significant events recorded by the Portuguese in their correspondences, letters, and writings. Researchers can gain insight into the political, economic, and social conditions that characterized the Sea of Oman during that historical period.
The documents also reveal Portuguese ambitions in the Arabian Gulf and their methods to undermine Oman’s economy through agreements made between the Portuguese and Indian sultans, stipulating non-cooperation with the Arabs in Oman and restricting trade with them.
This new historical work enriches both Arabic and global libraries, providing information and historical truths that have remained hidden in shelves and drawers for centuries.
Annals are historical texts where historians and researchers document events chronologically, beginning with specific phrases indicating the year of occurrence, such as “At the beginning of this year…” or “Then the year passed…”, often detailing events that occurred in the same year with phrases like “In the same year…” or “This year recorded…”.
Annals reflect the cyclical passage of years, including political, economic, religious, and social events, detailing locations and circumstances with precision. This method allows for a clear understanding of significant historical events.
Historians in Islam utilized this approach to narrate stories and news from previous nations, and early figures in this classification include prominent historians like Al-Haytham ibn Adi al-Kufi and Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Umar Al-Waqidi.
Annals can be divided into two types; the first chronicles events from a specific year without focusing on a particular place, while the second details events from a specific area with precise chronology. Thus, annals present a series of events and various news in a sequential manner, making it easier for researchers and readers to engage with and follow the content.