Yemen

Yemen, officially the Republic of Yemen, is a country in West Asia. It is located in southern Arabia, bordering Saudi Arabia to the north and Oman to the northeast. Yemen also shares maritime borders with several countries across the Horn of Africa.

Sanaa is the constitutional capital and largest city. Yemen has a large population of around 34.7 million people, mostly Arab Muslims. The country has been important for thousands of years because of its location, serving as a meeting point for many different cultures and civilizations.

Yemen has a rich history. Ancient groups like the Sabaeans built a successful trading kingdom, and later, the Himyarite Kingdom spread influence across the region. For centuries, Yemen was a main producer of coffee, which was sold from the port of Mocha.

In recent years, Yemen has faced many challenges. Since 2011, political problems and protests have led to a continuing civil war. This conflict has caused serious problems for the people living there, with many needing help to meet their basic needs. Today, Yemen is one of the least developed countries in the world and struggles with poverty, hunger, and the effects of climate change.

Etymology

Further information: Arabia Felix and South Arabia

The name Yemen comes from old writings about a king called Shammar Yahri'sh. It likely described the southern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, between Aden and Hadhramaut. Some believe the name means "the South" because it is to the south of the Arabian Peninsula. Others think it means "blessed" or "happy" because the land is fertile, unlike much of Arabia, which is very dry. The Romans called Yemen Arabia Felix meaning "happy Arabia," different from the dry lands they called Arabia Deserta.

History

Main article: History of Yemen

Ancient history

Main articles: Ancient history of Yemen, Awsan, Sheba, Qataban, Hadhramaut, Ma'in, and Himyar

Yemen has always been an important place because of its location near major trade routes. Big settlements existed in the mountains of northern Yemen as early as 5000 BC. The Sabaean Kingdom lasted from 1000 BC to 275 AD. The Sabaeans built the Great Dam of Marib around 940 BC to control flooding.

By the third century BC, other kingdoms like Qataban, Hadhramaut, and Ma'in became independent. The Romans tried to conquer Yemen but were defeated. After this, Yemen experienced chaos and conflict between different groups.

The Himyarites took control of Yemen around 100 AD. They believed in one god and rejected many old traditions. In 354, a Roman emperor tried to make them accept Christianity, but they resisted.

In 445, a king named Abu Kariba died after ruling for almost 50 years. By 515, Yemen was divided, and conflicts led to outside interference. A new leader, Dhu Nuwas, took power around 521. Later, Yemen came under the control of different empires, ending ancient South Arabian civilization.

Middle Ages

See also: Islamic history of Yemen

Advent of Islam and the three dynasties

Main articles: Yu'firids, Ziyadid dynasty, and Imams of Yemen

Around 630, Islam began to spread in Yemen. Many Yemeni tribes accepted Islam early. Yemen remained stable during early Islamic rule. New dynasties like the Ziyadids and Yufirids formed, ruling different parts of the country.

The first Zaidi imam arrived in Yemen in 893. He taught his beliefs and gained support from local tribes.

Sulayhid dynasty (1047–1138)

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Jibla became the capital of the dynasty. Featured is the Queen Arwa Mosque.

Queen Arwa al-Sulaihi Palace

The Sulayhid dynasty began around 1040. In 1060, Ali ibn Muhammad Al-Sulayhi conquered many areas. He married Asma bint Shihab, who helped govern Yemen. After Ali's death in 1084, his wife Arwa al-Sulayhi ruled until her death in 1138. She is remembered as a wise and beloved leader.

Ayyubid conquest (1171–1260)

Main article: Ayyubid dynasty

Turan Shah captured Aden in 1174 and later took control of Yemen. The Ayyubids faced resistance, especially from the Zaydis in the north. After many battles, the Zaydis managed to take back Sanaa in 1198.

Rasulid dynasty (1229–1454)

The Rasulid dynasty started in 1229. They made Taiz their capital and built schools to promote learning. They ruled for many years, facing challenges from family disputes and tribal revolts.

Tahirid dynasty (1454–1517)

Main articles: Ottoman–Portuguese confrontations and Ottoman–Portuguese conflicts (1538–1560)

The Tahirids built schools, mosques, and water systems. However, they were weak against outside threats.

Portuguese (1498–1756)

Main articles: Battle of Ash-Shihr (1523), Battle of al-Shihr (1531), Battle of al-Shihr (1548), Siege of Aden (1513), and Capture of Aden (1548)

In the 1500s, Portugal tried to control trade routes and attacked ports in Yemen. They took Aden for a short time but faced resistance from local forces.

Modern history

See also: Modern history of Yemen

The Zaydis and Ottomans

See also: Qasimid State, Yemen Eyalet, and Yemeni–Ottoman conflicts

The Ottomans took control of Yemen in the 1500s to protect trade routes and holy cities. They faced many rebellions from local tribes. Despite efforts to control Yemen, the Ottomans struggled to maintain order.

Ottoman rule weakened in the 1800s. Local leaders like Imam Yahya Hamidaddin resisted Ottoman control. By 1911, Imam Yahya was recognized as an independent leader in the north.

Mutawakkilite Kingdom

Main article: Kingdom of Yemen

Imam Yahya ruled northern Yemen from 1911. He expanded his control and signed treaties with neighboring countries. However, tensions with Britain over Aden continued.

Colonial Aden

Yemeni people moved to Aden for work. During World War II, Aden became an important port. Labour movements began, and resistance to British rule grew.

Two states

Arab nationalism influenced Yemen. In 1962, a civil war began when officers tried to overthrow the king. The north became the Yemen Arab Republic, while the south became South Yemen in 1967.

Unification and civil war

In 1990, Yemen unified under one government. However, tensions between north and south led to a civil war in 1994. The north won, and Yemen became one country again.

Contemporary Yemen

In 2012, The Guardian reported that "Sana'a risks becoming the first capital in the world to run out of a viable water supply as Yemen's streams and natural aquifers run dry".

Ali Abdullah Saleh became Yemen's first directly elected president in the 1999 presidential election. In 2000, a attack on a U.S. ship occurred in Aden. After the September 11 attacks, Yemen joined the U.S. in fighting terrorism.

The Houthi insurgency in Yemen began in 2004. Clashes over fuel prices caused deaths in 2005. Saleh won elections again in 2006.

Revolution and aftermath

The 2011 protests began against unemployment and corruption. President Saleh agreed to step down in 2011. New leadership faced challenges from different groups. The Houthi movement took control of Sanaa in 2014, leading to conflict and a ongoing civil war.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Yemen

Yemen is a country in West Asia, covering about 455,000 square kilometers. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, the Gulf of Aden and Guardafui Channel to the south, and Oman to the east. Yemen includes several islands, such as the Hanish Islands, Kamaran, Perim, and Socotra in the Arabian Sea. Some of these islands, like Jabal al-Tair Island, have had volcanic eruptions in the past.

Yemen has four main regions: coastal plains along the Red Sea, western highlands, eastern highlands, and the Rub' al Khali desert in the east. The coastal area is very dry but has many lagoons. The western highlands get more rain and have terraced fields for growing food. The central highlands are high and dry but still support crops like wheat and barley. The eastern desert area is low and receives almost no rain, home only to Bedouin herders with camels.

Yemen has many different plants and animals. Some plants are from Africa, while others are from the Arab and Sahara regions. The Arabian leopard lives in the mountains but is rare. Special trees like Dragon blood trees can be found on Socotra Island.

Main article: Wildlife of Yemen

Government and politics

Main article: Politics of Yemen

Yemen is a country where the leader is chosen by voting, and leaders work together in groups to make decisions. The president leads the country, while the prime minister helps manage daily tasks. Yemen has groups that help make laws and decisions, though sometimes these groups do not always work well together.

Yemen is split into areas called governorates, which are like big neighborhoods. These areas have smaller parts inside them, making up the whole country. Yemen works with other countries to stay safe and strong, joining groups like the United Nations and the Arab League.

Main article: Human rights in Yemen

In Yemen, some people face unfair treatment and are not always treated kindly by leaders or police. This can include being arrested without good reasons or having their homes searched without permission. There are also worries about how women and girls are treated, including issues around getting married too young. Groups that watch how countries treat people have pointed out these problems and asked for better treatment for everyone.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Yemen

Further information: Telecommunications in Yemen, Transportation in Yemen, and Internet usage in Yemen

Yemen has been one of the poorer countries in the Middle East since it joined together in 1990. In 2013, its total money from goods and services was about US$61.63 billion, with each person earning around $2,500 a year. Most of the money comes from services, followed by industry and farming. A big part of the money comes from making and selling oil.

Farming is important in Yemen, with many people working in fields. They grow grains, vegetables, fruits, coffee, cotton, and raise animals like sheep, goats, and camels. However, a big problem is the growing of a plant called Khat, which uses a lot of water and makes it hard to grow enough food.

Yemen also makes and sells things like oil, natural gas, and fish. The country buys things like machines, food, and chemicals from other places.

Yemen has very little water, which is a big challenge. Many people do not have enough clean water to drink or use for everyday needs. The situation is made harder by conflicts and damage to water systems. Groups like UNICEF are working to help provide clean water to families in need.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Yemen

Further information: List of cities in Yemen

Yemen has about 33 million people. Almost half of them are younger than 15 years old. In 1950, the population was only 4.3 million, but it is growing quickly. By 2050, it may reach 60 million people. The country has many children because families usually have many babies. The city of Sanaa has grown very fast, from just 55,000 people in 1978 to almost 1 million today.

Yemen is a country where many families have been living together for a long time. Some groups of people who lived there long ago left when Yemen became two separate countries. Today, most people in Yemen live in families that have special traditions. There are also people from other places, like India, who live in Yemen, especially in cities like Aden. Yemen is where the Arab people and their language began. Many people from Yemen moved to other countries, like Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom.

Languages

Modern Standard Arabic is the official language, while Yemeni Arabic is used in everyday speaking. In some places, like the far east and the island of Socotra, people speak other languages. Yemeni Sign Language is used by people who cannot hear.

Religion

Main article: Religion in Yemen

Most people in Yemen follow Islam. There are two main groups: one group makes up about 45 percent of the people, and the other makes up about 53 percent. A very small number of people follow other religions, like Christianity or Judaism.

Education

Main article: Education in Yemen

Many people in Yemen cannot read or write, but the government wants to change that. Children aged six to 15 should go to school for free, but not all of them do. The government is trying to get more girls, especially in rural areas, into school. Yemen has some universities, but they are not ranked very high compared to universities in other countries.

Health

Main article: Health in Yemen

See also: Famine in Yemen and 2016–17 Yemen cholera outbreak

Yemen’s health system needs a lot of help. There are not enough doctors or hospitals, especially in places far from cities. Many people do not have easy access to doctors or medical care.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Yemen

Yemen has many special places and traditions. It has four important World Heritage sites chosen by UNESCO. One is the Old Walled City of Shibam, known for its tall buildings. Another is the Old City of Sanaa, which has been lived in for over 2,500 years. Near the coast, Zabid was once the country’s capital and has old schools and buildings. The Socotra Archipelago has unique plants and animals found nowhere else in the world.

Yemeni theatre started in the early 1900s and includes both amateur and professional groups. Plays by Yemeni and foreign writers are performed. Football is very popular in Yemen, and the country has its own football teams that play in international competitions. Yemen’s mountains and coasts offer many activities like biking, hiking, and water sports. A traditional sport called camel jumping is also enjoyed by some tribes.

Main article: List of World Heritage sites in Yemen

Main article: Theatre of Yemen

Main article: Media of Yemen