Sharjah [UAE], November 26: His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has introduced his latest historical work: the encyclopedia titled "The Portuguese in the Gulf of Oman: Events in Annals from 1497 to 1757."
This comprehensive volume is divided into 15 parts and is set to be fully published in the next two months.
His Highness remarked, "The encyclopedia titled 'The Portuguese in the Gulf of Oman: Events in Annals from 1497 to 1757' represents a valuable effort aimed at sharing knowledge. This collection, which I estimate to be around 15 volumes, not only encompasses various documents but also includes extensive writings crafted by the Portuguese during that period. Anyone who takes the time to explore these volumes will gain insight into the events and battles that unfolded over the span of 260 years. These works are designed not only for researchers but also for general readers who will find them engaging. Additionally, the volumes feature correspondence from significant figures of that era, enriching the readers' understanding and knowledge."
His Highness stated, "We focus on the Gulf of Oman because the Portuguese have never settled in one permanent location. Instead, they seek out islands for settlement due to their own maritime capabilities. The Portuguese fleets were often seen in the Gulf of Oman, where they engaged in agreements with the Sultans of India. A notable clause in these agreements stipulated that they would not collaborate with the Arabs in Oman or initiate any trade with them. In this encyclopedia, I assess the various injustices the Portuguese inflicted upon the people of Oman. Our hope is that these volumes will serve as a valuable resource for research, as the scientific studies related to these documents are primarily in the Portuguese language. It's worth noting that this form of Portuguese is quite old and no longer in common use, making it difficult even for modern Portuguese speakers to read. For Arab researchers, extracting meaningful information from this Portuguese scientific discourse can be a challenge. To address this, we have translated the original documents from old Portuguese into a modern dialect, then into English, and finally into Arabic. This process has significantly saved time for Arab researchers. Importantly, we haven't relied on a single source for information; instead, we have cross-verified it across multiple sources, and God willing, people will benefit from this information."
His Highness continued, stating, "The encyclopedia comprises 15 volumes, with each volume containing between 400 and 450 pages. We will now focus on the second volume, which is dedicated solely to the year 1507, a year rich in significant events. Our goal is to complete all 15 volumes, God willing, within the next two months. As historians, it is our duty to thoroughly search for documents and present our findings to scholars, writers, and authors. We place great importance on Dutch documents due to their remarkable credibility, followed closely by British ones. The main distinction between these sources lies in their approaches to accuracy: Dutch documents promptly amend any inaccuracies once they come to light, whereas British documents are often rigid and unwilling to revise their content, even if it is proven incorrect. This fundamental difference positions Dutch documents as the top most reliable sources available."
His Highness stated, "I have gathered all the documents from the Portuguese era that are written in Persian and Arabic. These are ancient handwritten papers, but we chose not to include them in these volumes, as they require further investigation. We are committed to providing our readers with accurate and reliable information, which has involved considerable effort on our part to verify. Our hope is that people will benefit from this work, God willing."
Source: Emirates News Agency
