Zanzibar sits just off the coast of the African continent across from the Tanganyika mainland. Zanzibar comprises two main islands, Unguja and Pemba, along with various smaller ones scattered around. The former of the two is the main island and the larger of the two. Zanzibar and Tanganyika would join in 1964 to create the country of Tanzania, but our history goes back much further than that. One of the earliest suspected references to Zanzibar comes from the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, dating back somewhere in the 1st to 3rd century AD. At first sight, the text sounds like a tale of adventures along ago. Unfortunately, no epic can be found here; only a captain's log detailing landmarks and ports that can be found along their journey. The earliest settlements found on the island point to an agricultural and fishing community on the islands around the 6th century. By the 9th century, Swahili merchants would frequent the island to take goods as far as Asia. The Portuguese would arrive in 1498 and soon exert influence over the islands while leaving most of the control with local leaders. This changed in 1631 after the Sultan of Mombasa killed his Portuguese inhabitants. Though they would establish a fort on Pemba, their presence would be short lived. The Omanis would arrive in 1698 and establish a stronghold on the islands. Eventually, the Sultan of Oman would move his seat to Stone Town and rule his dominions from the island. After his death, his sons would split his domain and create the first Sultan of Zanzibar in 1856. Ten years later, the British and Germans would soon be after these lands and divide the domain for themselves. Gradually, control of the islands would find its way into the hands of the British and would officially become a British protectorate in 1890. The Sultan would continue to rule and manage local affairs with the help of British Advisors. The British would end this protectorate status in 1963, leading to the creation of a constitutional monarchy with the Sultan at its head. Just over a month later, the Zanzibar Revolution would kick off, and the Sultan would flee the country. Change again would happen a few months later when Zanzibar and Tanganyika would merge and create the United Republic of Tanzania. This takes us to the modern day, where Tanzania continues to grow as a combined nation!