Yemen

Main article: History of Yemen

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Yemen was one of the oldest centres of civilization in the Near East. Between the 9th century BC and the 6th century AD, it was part of the Minaean, Sabaean, Himyarite, Qatabanian, Hadhramawtian, and Awsanian kingdoms, which controlled the lucrative spice trade. It was known to the Romans as "Arabia Felix" ("Happy Arabia") because of the riches its trade generated; Augustus Caesar attempted to annex it, but the expedition failed, but Persian King of Kings were more successful and Yemen became a Persian province in 597/8 under a Persian satrap. In the 7th century, Islamic caliphs began to exert control over the area. After this caliphate broke up, the former north Yemen came under control of Imams of various dynasties usually of the Zaidi sect, who established a theocratic political structure that survived until modern times. (Imam is a religious term. The Shiites apply it to the prophet Muhammad's son-in-law Ali, his sons Hassan and Hussein, and subsequent lineal descendants, whom they consider to have been divinely ordained unclassified successors of the prophet.)

Minaean: Minaean was a kingdom in Southwestern Arabia from approximately 1200 BC until 650 bc, centred on what is now Yemen. Its capital was Qarnawu....

Sabaean: REDIRECT Sabaeans...

Himyarite: REDIRECT Himyarite Kingdom...

Yemen related Images and Photos (experimental)

Funerary Stela from Yemen (Alabaster)	Yemens Chameleon Young 10 Wks Old Yemen	Backs of Mud Brick Houses and Toilets Shibam Wadi Hadramaut Yemen Middle East	Vendor and Spice Stall Ta'Izz Ta'Izz Yemen
Dragon's Blood Tree Endemic to Island Diksam Plateau Central Socotra Island Yemen