History of Zanzibar

As you explore on your Zanzibar Holiday you'll find traces of her rich and complex history in the scents of her marketplaces, the intricately carved doorways of Stone Town, the call to prayer that plays out from the city's minarets and in age-old routines of the villagers lives.

Persia, Arabia and the East African coast have been in contact for over 2,000 year, since sailors harnessed the power of the monsoon winds to help them sail across the Indian Ocean.

The sea-faring Portuguese led by Vasco De Gama arrived here at the end of the 15th century, marking the beginning of Europe's influence on Zanzibar. A trading post was established, as was customary practice for colonisers along the eastern coast. It took the Portuguese only four years to gain control over the island.

At the end of the 17th century the Portuguese were unceremoniously ousted by the Omani Arabs. It was during this period that Zanzibar became a major slave trading centre.

In 1840 the reigning Sultan of Oman moved his court from Oman's capital, Muscat, to Stone Town. This move resulted in the Zanzibar becoming an Arab state and an important regional centre for trade and politics. During the second half of the 19th century many intrepid European explorers, including the likes of Livingstone, began their expeditions into the interior of Africa from the island of Zanzibar.

From 1887 to 1892 the Omani Sultan Said, who controlled a substantial portion of the East African coast, began to lose land to the colonial powers of Britain, Germany, and Italy.

The British Empire gradually took over Zanzibar and by the 1890 they were in complete control. From 1890 to 1963 the island was a British Protectorate.

The Shortest War Ever

In 1896, war broke out over the succession of Sultan Hamad bin Thuwaini. The Anglo-Zanzibar War holds the title for the shortest war in history as Zanzibar surrendered after 45 minutes. A sultan endorsed by Britain took the throne.

Free at Last

Following British demands, Sultan Hamoud bin Mohammed ended Zanzibar's role as a centre for the eastern slave trade. Slavery was banned and Zanzibar's slaves were freed with compensation in 1897.

In 1963, Zanzibar received independence from the United Kingdom, on condition that it operated as a constitutional monarchy under the Sultan. The Sultan was overthrown on January 12th, 1964. April 26th of the same year saw Zanzibar merge with the mainland state of Tanganyika to form Tanzania.

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