蘇維埃社會主義共和國聯邦

阿曼(Oman)

正式名稱阿曼蘇丹國（Sultanate of Oman）

舊稱馬斯喀特和阿曼（Muscat and Oman）

阿拉伯半島東南沿海國家。面積306,000平方公里。人口約2,497,000（2001）。首都︰馬斯喀特。大部分人口是阿拉伯人並形成部落，然而還有相當數量的人來自東南亞和東非。語言︰阿拉伯語（官方語）及俾路支語。宗教：伊斯蘭教（國教）和印度教。貨幣︰阿曼里亞爾。阿曼炎熱乾旱，沿海地區溫度較高。哈傑爾山脈與阿曼灣海岸平行，高度逾3,000公尺。向西南延伸約600公里的礫質沙漠分開，佔阿曼全境的3/4。阿曼屬於發展中的混合型經濟，石油的生產和出口在該國經濟中所佔比重最大。政府形式為君主制，有顧問會議輔佐統治。國家元首暨政府首腦為蘇丹。

人類在阿曼定居至少有一萬年之久。阿拉伯人向阿曼的遷徙始於西元前9世紀。在7世紀皈依伊斯蘭教以前，阿曼部落間的爭鬥不斷。阿曼一直受伊瑪目統治，直到1154年由諸位國王統治的王朝建立為止。他們被驅逐出境後，1507～1650年葡萄牙人佔據阿曼海岸。布.賽義德王朝創於18世紀中葉，統治著阿曼。18～19世紀向東非擴張版圖，桑吉巴為首都。1964年發現石油。1970年蘇丹被其子推翻，並著手進行現代化的政策和加入阿拉伯國家聯盟和聯合國。波斯灣戰爭期間與聯合部合作對抗伊拉克。1990年代繼續擴充套件外交關係。

English version：

Oman

formerlyMuscat and OmanNation,southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. Area: 119,500 sq mi (309,500 sq km). Population (1997 est.): 2,265,000. Capital: Masqat,or Muscat. The Omanis are predominantly Arab and tribal in organization. There are also many people from S.East Asia and East Africa working there. Language: Arabic (official),Baluchi. Religions: Islam (official),Hinduism. Currency: rial Omani. Oman is a hot,arid country with high humidity along the coasts. The Al-Hajar Mountains parallel the Gulf of Oman coast,reaching a height of more than 10,000 ft (3,000 m). A broad expanse of gravel desert extends southwestward to cover three-fourths of the country. It has a developing mixed economy,with the production and export of petroleum as its largest sector. It is a monarchy,with an advisory council; its head of state and government is the sultan. The land has been inhabited for at least 10,000 years. The Arab migration to Oman began in the 9th century BC. Tribal warfare continued until the conversion to Islam in the 7th century AD. It was ruled by Ibadi imams until 1154,when a royal dynasty was established. The Portuguese controlled the coastal areas c. 1507-1650,when they were expelled. The Al Bu Said dynasty,founded in the mid-18th century,still rules Oman. The kingdom expanded into eastern Africa in the 18th-19th century,and the capital was in Zanzibar. Oil was discovered in 1964. In 1970 the sultan was deposed by his son,who began a policy of modernization and joined the Arab League and the United Nations. In the Persian Gulf War,Oman cooperated with the allied forces against Iraq. In the 1990s it continued to expand its foreign relations.