Hadhramout, the ancient civilization: Made the Yemeni history [Archives:2002/28/Last Page]
July 8 2002
REVIEWED BY
ISMAIL AL-GHABIRI
YEMENTIMES
Hadhramout is one of the Yemeni governorates which is famous for growing palm trees and for its deep-rooted history. It is situated in south-east of Yemen. It is characterized by the diversity of its geographical terrain and tourist potentials. It has coastal plains along the Arabian Sea with an altitude of 2002 meters above sea level and sprawling over a spacious area of the Empty Quarter (Alroba al-khali). It also includes Wadi Hadhramout which is one of the largest and most fertile places in the Arabian Peninsula estimated at 165 km long. Hadhramout has a glorious past and deep-rooted ancient history.
Historical studies indicate that the Wadi Hadhramout situated in the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula was settled by man for thousands of years. In Hadhramout, was one of the oldest Yemeni city states where civilization was greatly flourishing in the middle of the 1st millennium BC.
Its economic structure is largely dependent on the commodity of frankincense. In addition, there were other commercial activities using overland roads and sea routes. People in Hadhramout are interested in agriculture, building towns, constructing dams and canals, protecting trade routes, using the invincible castles and fortresses, and establishing temples in its capital Shabwa and other towns.
Then a trade movement had considerably declined due to the recession of incense trade which was brought to a standstill. Its use was prohibited by the Christian religion. Other reasons could be ascribed to the decline of the incense trade including the transformation of trade routes from the desert to the main plateau which was starting from Aden via Dhafar and Sanaa to Mecca.
By the 4th century AD, the oldest Yemeni dynasties were totally dominated by the Himyarite king. From Raydan, the royal palace at Dhafar, that king announced his new title The king of Sheba, Dhi Raydan, Hadhramout and Yemanat
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