History of Yemen: All You Need to Know

Yemen lies in Western Asia on the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It borders Saudi Arabia to the north and Oman to the east, with coastlines on the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Its location on ancient trade routes shaped its history, culture and famous architecture, including the mud-brick tower houses of Sana'a and Shibam.

Ancient kingdoms

Between roughly 1200 BCE and the early centuries CE, kingdoms such as Saba (biblical Sheba), Ma'in (the Minaeans), Qataban and Himyar controlled the trade in frankincense and myrrh. Farmers built dams and terraces, including the famous Great Dam of Marib, to farm the dry mountains.

Islam and the Zaidi imams

Yemen embraced Islam in the 7th century CE. From the 9th century, Zaidi imams ruled large parts of the northern highlands, and their rule lasted in various forms until the 1960s. The Ottoman Empire controlled parts of Yemen during the 16th to early 20th centuries.

Modern Yemen

North and South Yemen unified in 1990 to form the Republic of Yemen. Since 2014 the country has been affected by civil war, which has caused a severe humanitarian crisis and damaged its economy.

Economy

Oil exports were long the largest source of income, but production and prices have fallen. Agriculture, including coffee, fishing and remittances from Yemenis abroad, remains important for many families.

What makes Yemeni coffee special?

Coffee was first farmed and brewed as a drink in Yemen in the 1400s, and for about 200 years Yemen supplied nearly all of the world's coffee through the port of Al-Makha (Mocha). Today Yemeni coffee is still grown on mountain terraces, hand-picked and sun-dried in the cherry. It has notes of chocolate, dried fruit, cardamom and cinnamon. Read the full history of Yemeni coffee.

Frequently asked questions