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 linguistically conceived would include the historic peoples speaking the related South Arabian languages as well as neighboring dialects of Arabic, and their descendants. South Arabia as generally conceived would include the lands inhabited by peoples partaking of its distinctive traditions and culture, which overlap recently demarcated political boundaries.

Yemen or al-yaman means "the south". 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 In a traditional Arabian genealogy, the people of the peninsula are divided between the north and the south, those of the north being descendants of Ishmael and those of the south of Jokshan (or Yoqtan).2

Three thousand years ago several different state entities occupied the region of South Arabia, e.g., M'ain, Qataban, Hadhramaut, Saba.3 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.4 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.5 A half-century later, in the year 6 A.H., the region became Muslim.6

History of South Arabia as History of Yemen:

South Arabia in the recent history of Yemen regards these states:

South Arabia outside of Yemen:

South Arabia may also refer to colonial era entities:

References

  1. ^ Mackintosh-Smith, Yemen (London: John Murray 1997) at 8.
  2. ^ Robert G. Hoyland, Arabia and the Arabs (London: Routledge 2001) at 58-59.
  3. ^ Brian Doe, South Arabia (London: Thames & Hudson 1971) at 60-102.
  4. ^ Jean-Francois Breton, Arabia Felix (University of Notre Dame 1999) at 13-20, 23; 53-73; 3-5, 41-43.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.