|
During this period, many Sultans of the Busaidi family ruled. The name Busaidi is still common in Zanzibar today. Of the Sultans, the most famous is Seyyid Said bin Sultan, Said the Great. He introduced cloves to the island, and along with the lucrative slave trade, garnered himself a very rich empire. So much so, that he decided to move the Sultanate's capital to Zanzibar from Muscat in the 1840's
Slave trade through Zanzibar as mentioned was very lucrative. Traders like Tipu Tip were able to make large fortunes. Such fortunes allowed this trader for example to afford over 30 concubines, with their children and an official wife and her two children
After the death of Said the Great in 1856, the royal house was left with numerous power struggles. Faced with the advent of slavery abolition and jealousy within the family, the British managed to gain control of much of the island.
Next ..
|
