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Ancient South Arabian Kingdom and Region in Eastern Yemen
Overview
Ḥaḍramawt was one of the major ancient South Arabian kingdoms, centered in the southeastern region of present-day Yemen along the Wādī Ḥaḍramawt and extending to the Gulf of Aden. Flourishing from at least the 8th century BCE until the early 3rd century CE, it was a powerful and independent polity involved in long-distance trade, particularly the frankincense and myrrh routes. 1
Political and Economic Role
Ḥaḍramawt maintained a stable monarchy with rulers titled “Malik Ḥḍrmwt” (King of Ḥaḍramawt), and its capital was the city of Šabwa (Shabwah), located along the caravan route connecting South Arabia to the north and east. The kingdom played a key role in the South Arabian confederacy and rivalled neighbouring states like Sabaʾ and Qatabān. Its control of trade, ports such as Qanīʾ, and incense-producing regions made it economically significant. 2
Decline and Legacy
Ḥaḍramawt was eventually annexed by the Ḥimyarite Kingdom in the early 3rd century CE, marking the end of its independent rule. However, the name Ḥaḍramawt endured as a regional identity into Islamic times and persists today as a major province of Yemen. The kingdom is well-documented in Musnad inscriptions, which provide insights into its kingship, religion, and diplomacy. 3
Further Reading
https://historyofislam.org/sources-of-advent-of-islam
https://www.britannica.com/place/Hadhramaut
Foot Notes
- Kenneth Kitchen, Documentation for Ancient Arabia, Vol. 1: Chronological Framework and Historical Sources (Liverpool: Liverpool University Press, 1994).
- Jacqueline Pirenne, Ancient South Arabian Civilization, in Yemen: 3000 Years of Art and Civilization in Arabia Felix (Innsbruck: Pinguin-Verlag, 1987).
- Christian Robin, “Les Hautes-Terres du Yémen et la formation du monde arabe,” Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy 11 (2000): 85–109.