Omani Australia

Why would they want to colonize northern and western Australia, anyway?

Those territories are mainly deserts with rugged rocky coasts - not exactly something that's worth crossing the Indian Ocean for.
 
Why would they want to colonize northern and western Australia, anyway?


Actually, IIRC Northern Australia has tropical weather, with annual monsoons.

As to why? Where's the gold in Australia again?

For the sake of plausibility, I think the Omanis would do better in an empty Madagascar, or in South Africa.
 
Actually, IIRC Northern Australia has tropical weather, with annual monsoons.

As to why? Where's the gold in Australia again?

IIRC pretty much all of the valuable minerals, ores and gems are found in the central desert and the eastern highlands - not exactly areas that are easy to reach from settlements on the western or northern coast.

And it'd take a while before anyone actually discovers Australia's mineral wealth.

For the sake of plausibility, I think the Omanis would do better in an empty Madagascar, or in South Africa.

I agree.
 

bard32

Banned
What are the possibilities of Omani exploration and colonization of Northern and Western Australia?

Arab traders did sail far and wide. Look at the story of Sinbad the Sailor in the
Arabian Nights. Islam must have reached the Pacific and Indian Oceans with
Arab traders the same way Christianity did with Christian missionaries. While
difficult, I wouldn't say it was impossible, or ASB.
 
Arab traders did sail far and wide. Look at the story of Sinbad the Sailor in the
Arabian Nights. Islam must have reached the Pacific and Indian Oceans with
Arab traders the same way Christianity did with Christian missionaries. While
difficult, I wouldn't say it was impossible, or ASB.

Where have you been, bard32?

Nah, Islam reached the Indian Oceans cos of merchants, not missionaries unlike Hindu or Buddha. And I would add that Sinbad out of AN isn't a valid historical resource:D
 

bard32

Banned
Where have you been, bard32?

Nah, Islam reached the Indian Oceans cos of merchants, not missionaries unlike Hindu or Buddha. And I would add that Sinbad out of AN isn't a valid historical resource:D

I've been away from the board. Isn't that what I said? Arab traders traveled far and wide? I was citing Sinbad as an example. The Arab traders, as I said
before, traveled far and wide.
 

Hendryk

Banned
Perhaps Australia gets discovered by Omani traders, but if outright colonization is to take place, the settlers are more likely to be Malays. Over time, South Indians may join them, as well as Chinese and the odd Parsi, though the ruling elite may remain Omani. Creolization and cultural syncretism are probable long-term developments.
 
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