South Arabia

South Arabia as a general term refers to several regions as currently recognized, in chief the Republic of Yemen; yet it has historically also included Najran, Jizan, and 'Asir which are presently in Saudi Arabia, and Dhofar presently in Oman. The frontiers of South Arabia as generally conceived include the historic peoples speaking the related South Arabian languages as well as dialects of Arabic in South Arabia, and partaking of its traditions and culture, which would considerably overlap recently settled political boundaries.

Yemen or "al-yaman" means "the south". [Mackintosh-Smith, "Yemen" (London: John Murray 1997) at 8. One suspect etymology derives it from "yamin" the "right side" as the south is on the right when facing the sunrise. Another from "yumn" meaning "felicity" as the region is fertile; indeed the Romans called it Arabia Felix.]

Three thousand years ago several different state entities occupied the region of South Arabia, e.g., M'ain, Qataban, Hadhramaut, Saba. [Brian Doe, "South Arabia" (London: Thames & Hudson 1971) at 60-102.] In ancient times South Arabia claimed several notable features, e.g., the famous dam at Marib, the cosmopolitan incense trade, as well as the legendary Queen of Sheba. [Jean-Francois Breton, "Arabia Felix" (University of Notre Dame 1999) at 13-20, 23; 53-73; 3-5, 41-43.] Two thousand years ago the Himyarites became master of South Arabia for several centuries, until displaced by the armies of Axum which landed from nearby Ethiopia; after a long rule by the Ethiopians, the Sasanid Persians came also arriving by sea. [al-Tabari, "The Hisory of al-Tabari", volume V, "The Sasanids, the Byzantines, the Lakmids, and Yemen" (S.U.N.Y. 1999) at 183-252; Guy Annequin, "Little-Known Civilizations of the Red Sea" (Geneva: Ferni 1979) at 196-202.] A half-century later, in the year 6 A.H., the region became Muslim. [al-Tabari, "The History of al-Tabari", volume VIII, "The Victory of Islam" (S.U.N.Y. 1997) at 114; Sally Ann Baynard, "Historical Setting" in "The Yemens: Country Studies" (Washington, D.C.: Foreign Area Studies, The American University, c.1985) at 1-89, 3-14.]

History of South Arabia as History of Yemen:
*History of Yemen
*Ancient history of Yemen
*Islamic history of Yemen
*Modern history of Yemen
*Timeline of Yemen history

South Arabia in the recent history of Yemen regards these states:
*Unified
**Republic of Yemen (1990-present)
*"North"
**Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen (1918-1962)
**Yemen Arab Republic (1962-1990)
*South
**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

South Arabia outside of Yemen:
*Najran, Jizan, 'Asir in Saudi Arabia
*Dhofar in Oman

South Arabia may also refer to colonial era entities:
*Northern
**Ottoman Empire (1517-1635)
**Ottoman Empire (1849-, 1872-1918)
*Southern
**Aden city
***British India (1839-1930)
***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)

References