Includes bibliographical references and index.

Origins and nature of the dispute -- The Gulf islands dispute in historical perspective -- Modes of acquisition and effective control of territory -- The pre-sixteenth century period and the existence of historic rights of ownership -- The Kingdom of Hormuz, its conquest by Portugal in 1515 and Portugal's defeat at the hands of Persia and Britain in 1622 -- The early seventeenth century to the end of the eighteenth century : were the islands still terra nullius? -- The seeds of conflict: 1800 until 1887 - effective occupation -- The period 1887-1971 : the possible "critical dates" in the sovereignty dispute -- The mou related to Abu Musa, the seizure of the Tunbs by iran on 30 November 1971 and subsequent events up to the present -- Evidentiary value of maps in sovereignty disputes over territory.

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