Zanzibar is an ancient land that has been home to humans for over 20,000 years. The island gained prominence as a key trading hub for merchants traveling between the African Great Lakes, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Indian subcontinent.
The Portuguese Empire was the first European power to rule Zanzibar, holding control for nearly 200 years. In 1698, the Sultanate of Oman took over, fostering a trade-based economy with cash crops and an Arab ruling elite, while the general population remained predominantly Bantu.
Ivory was another major trade commodity, with elephants hunted on the Tanganyika mainland—some of which can still be seen in certain regions today. In 1890, Zanzibar came under British rule, and the island eventually gained full independence in December 1963, leading to the formation of the Republic of Zanzibar and Pemba.
