
The official title of this country in 1970 was the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman, which reflected the factionalism present at this time. This official description did little to promote the country as one maintaining political stability and indeed, the administrative system executed its functions in a manner which certainly discouraged change and progress, a situation which had been manifest for the previous 50 years. While the rest of the world moved on, Oman remained oblivious to the march of human civilisation. Nations eager to move forward were unconcerned by the plights of those who chose to shun the progress of the 20th century.