South Arabia

South Arabia (), or Greater Yemen, is a historical region that consists of the southern region of the Arabian Peninsula in the southern part of West Asia, mainly centered in what is now the Republic of Yemen, yet it historically included Najran, Jazan, and Asir, which are presently in Saudi Arabia, and Dhofar of present-day Oman.

Southern Arabia is inhabited almost entirely by Arabs with long tribal and cultural affinities to the region. Most are native speakers of Arabic while the unrelated minority, Modern South Arabian languages are also present. Both however belong to the Semitic language family.

Etymology The term Yamnat was mentioned in Old South Arabian inscriptions on the title of one of the kings of the second Himyarite Kingdom known as Shammar Yahri'sh. The term was probably referring to the southwestern coastline of the Arabian peninsula and the southern coastline between Aden and Hadramout. One etymology derives Yemen from , meaning "South", and significantly plays on the notion of the land to the right (𐩺𐩣𐩬). Other sources claim that Yemen is related to yamn or yumn, meaning "felicity" or "blessed", as much of the country is fertile. The Romans called it Arabia Felix (fertile Arabia), as opposed to Arabia Deserta (deserted Arabia). Classical Latin and Greek writers used the name "India" to refer to South Arabia (ancient Yemen). The use of the term "India" arose from the fact that the Persians called the Abyssinians with whom they came into contact in South Arabia by the name of the Cushitic people who lived next to them, i.e., Indians.Origin Of Islam In Its Christian Environment Bell, Richard p.g 34 Southern Arabia was part of Indian Ocean trade routes for millennia. With the advent of the Omani Empire, ties were strengthened between India and the Eastern Coast of Africa and Madagascar.

History

Three thousand years ago, several ancient states occupied the region of South Arabia, being M'ain, Qataban, Hadhramaut, and Saba.Brian Doe, South Arabia (London: Thames & Hudson 1971) at 60–102. 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.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 conquered South Arabia, dominating the region for several centuries. Then, they were defeated and displaced by the Persian armies of the Sasanian dynasty (575 CE), who also arrived by sea.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. A half-century later, the region was integrated into the First Islamic state (628 CE).al-Tabari, The History of al-Tabari, volume VIII, The Victory of Islam (S.U.N.Y. 1997) at 114 (became Muslim).

Geography

South Arabia

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