Beschrijving

“The Arabs of the Gulf, 1602–1784” by B. J. Slot offers a detailed historical account of the Arabian side of the Persian Gulf during a formative period in regional history. Relying heavily on Dutch East India Company (VOC) archives, Slot brings a fresh perspective to Gulf history by emphasizing the role of Arab communities and their internal developments. The book explores the rise of local political structures, the importance of maritime trade, and the complex relationships between Arab sheikhdoms and European colonial powers, particularly the Dutch. Slot’s work highlights events such as the Persian–Omani conflicts and situates the Gulf as a vital node in Indian Ocean commerce long before British dominance. Slot’s contribution is especially notable for its use of underexplored Dutch sources, which reveal Arab agency and dynamics often overlooked in traditional historiography. His approach, which centers Arab perspectives rather than a Eurocentric or Persian-dominated narrative, has been praised for its originality. However, some scholars argue that his focus may underplay the Gulf’s broader interconnectedness with Persian and South Asian cultures. Nonetheless, the book stands as a significant work in Gulf studies, offering a nuanced and archival-based re-evaluation of early modern Gulf history.