South Arabia

South Arabia is a historical region that consists of the southern region of the Arabian Peninsula, mainly centered in what is now the Republic of Yemen, yet it has historically also included Najran, Jizan, and 'Asir, which are presently in Saudi Arabia, and the Dhofar of present-day Oman.

South Arabia is inhabited by peoples partaking distinctive linguistic and ethnic affinities, as well as traditions and culture, transcending recent political boundaries. This is the historical region of Qahtanite.

Language and etymology

The frontiers of South Arabia as linguistically conceived would include the historic peoples speaking the related South Arabian languages as well as neighboring dialects of Arabic, and their descendants. Anciently, there was a South Arabian alphabet, which was borrowed by Ethiopia.

Yemen or al-Yaman means "the right side". One etymology derives Yemen from yamin the "right side" as the south is on the right when facing the sunrise; yet this etymology is considered suspect. Another derives Yemen from yumn meaning "felicity" as the region is fertile; indeed the Romans called it Arabia Felix.^[1] Yaman derives from Yam, Yams, Yame, Yame or Miya, Miyah, Miah (water).

History

Three thousand years ago, several different ancient states occupied the region of South Arabia, e.g., M'ain, Qataban, Hadhramaut, Saba.^[2] In these ancient times South Arabia claimed several notable features: the famous dam at Marib, the cosmopolitan incense trade, as well as the legendary Queen of Sheba.^[3] Two thousand years ago the Himyarites became the masters of South Arabia, remaining dominant for several centuries. From Ethiopia across Al-Bahr Al-Ahmar came armies of Axum first in the 3rd–4th centuries, then later in the 6th under King Kaleb who established dominion, c. 520. They were displaced by Persian forces of the Sassanid dynasty, c.575, who also arrived by sea.^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7] A half-century later, in the year 6 A.H. (628), the region became Muslim.^[8]

Ancient South Arabia

Ancient kingdoms and appellations:

Saba', Ma'īn, Qatabān, Ḥaḑramawt, Awsān, Himyar.
Arabia Felix.

Foreign presence (before Islam):

Axum (3rd–4th, 6th centuries), Sasanid (6th–7th centuries).

South Arabian Islamic dynasties

Umayyid 661–750
Abbasid 750–897
Ziyadid 819–1018
Sulaihid 1047–1138
Ayyubid 1174–1228
Rasulid 1229–1454
Tahiride 1454–1526

South Arabia in the early modern and colonial-era

File:Flag of Asir.svg

Flag of Idrisid Emirate of Asir.

Northern
- Yemen Eyalet, Ottoman Empire (1517–1635)
- Yemen Vilayet, Ottoman Empire (1849–, 1872–1918)
- Idrisid Emirate (1906–1934)
Southern
- Aden city
  - Aden Province (1839–1937)
  - Colony of Aden (1937–1963)
- Regional
  - Aden Protectorate (1874–1959)
  - Federation of Arab Emirates of the South (1959–1962)
  - Federation of South Arabia (1962–1967)
  - Protectorate of South Arabia (1963–1967)

South Arabia in recent history

Independent Yemen:

Unified
- Republic of Yemen (1990–present)
Northern
- Idrisid Emirate (1906–1934)
- Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen (1918–1962)
- Yemen Arab Republic (1962–1990)
Southern
- Qu'aiti Sultanate (1858–1967)
- People's Republic of South Yemen (1967–1970)
- People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (1970–1990)
Other articles
- Yemenite Reunification (1990)
- North Yemen & South Yemen
- Democratic Republic of Yemen (1994)
- Greater Yemen
- Houthi insurgency in Yemen (2015)

South Arabia outside Yemen

Najran, Jizan, 'Asir in Saudi Arabia
Dhofar in Oman

References

^ Mackintosh-Smith, Yemen (London: John Murray 1997) at 8.
^ Brian Doe, South Arabia (London: Thames & Hudson 1971) at 60–102.
^ Jean-Francois Breton, Arabia Felix (University of Notre Dame 1999) at 13–20, 23; 53–73; 3–5, 41–43.
^ al-Tabari, The History of al-Tabari, volume V, The Sasanids, the Byzantines, the Lakmids, and Yemen (S.U.N.Y. 1999), in Yemen: Ethiopian conquest at 179, 182–183, 204–208, 212; Persia over al-Habashah at 159–160, 236–249.
^ Stuart Munro-Hay, Aksum. An African civilization of late antiquity (Edinburgh Univ. 1991) at 71–74, 76–77 (3rd century), at 78–80 (4th century), at 84–88 (6th century).
^ Sally Ann Baynard, "Historical Setting" in The Yemens: Country Studies (Washington, D.C.: Foreign Area Studies, The American University, c.1985) 1–89, at 3–14: Ethiopians at 11–12 (4th century for 4 decades, 6th century for about 50 years); Persians at xiii, 12.
^ Guy Annequin, Little-Known Civilizations of the Red Sea (Geneva: Ferni 1979) at 196–202.
^ al-Tabari, The History of al-Tabari, volume VIII, The Victory of Islam (S.U.N.Y. 1997) at 114 (became Muslim).

v t e Former states in South Arabia
Federation of South Arabia	Aden Alawi Aqrabi Audhali Beihan Dathina Dhala Fadhli Haushabi Lahej Lower Aulaqi Lower Yafa Maflahi Qutaibi Shaib Upper Aulaqi Sheikhdom Upper Aulaqi Sultanate Wahidi Balhaf Wahidi Bir Ali Wahidi Haban
Protectorate of South Arabia	Kathiri Mahra Qu'aiti Upper Yafa (Al-Busi – Al-Dhubi – Hadrami – Mawsata – Maflahi – Na'wah – Rubeaten – Juban) al-Hawra al-`Irqa
Independent states	North Yemen South Yemen (1994 revival attempt) Baidah Najran Lower Asir Upper Asir Tarim
History of Yemen Federation of the Emirates of the South Aden Protectorate Aden Province Aden Colony