Introduction
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.