A research team led by Mariam bint Said al Bartamaniyah, doctoral researcher in history and an employee at the College of Education, Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), has won a UNESCO grant for silk road studies, a new initiative launched by UNESCO with the support of the People’s Republic of China.
Titled ‘The Maritime Silk Road from the 11th to the 19th Century and its Role in the Omani-Chinese Civilization Convergence Through the Journeys of Abdullah Al Suhari and Zheng He’, the winning research was focuses on the results of cultural interactions and exchanges between Oman and China.
The research team comprises Mariam bint Said al Bartamaniyah, lead researcher, Dr Fatima Balhawari, Dr Ali al Hajri, Dr Mohammed Bushaikha and Iman al Rashidiyah.
This study mainly targets to shed light on the Maritime Silk Road, and the role it played in establishing political, commercial and cultural relations between Oman and China, especially from the 11th to the 19th century. It also aims to highlight the role of missions, travellers, Omani and Chinese merchants in maintaining and developing these relations.
