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Yemen, located on the southwestern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, has a rich and diverse history dating back thousands of years. Known for its strategic position along trade routes linking Africa, Asia, and Europe, Yemen has been home to powerful ancient kingdoms, Islamic empires, and colonial powers. Its history is shaped by the rise and fall of civilizations such as the Sabaean and Himyarite kingdoms, its role in the spread of Islam, and its entanglement in modern regional and global conflicts. Yemen’s contemporary history is marked by civil wars, political instability, and ongoing humanitarian crises. This timeline provides an overview of Yemen’s history from ancient times to the present, highlighting key events that have shaped the country and its people.

Ancient Yemen (Before 7th Century CE)

Prehistoric Yemen (10,000 BCE – 2000 BCE)

  • 10,000 BCE – 5000 BCE: Evidence suggests that prehistoric people inhabited parts of Yemen as early as 10,000 BCE. These early inhabitants were likely hunter-gatherers who gradually transitioned to settled agricultural societies.
  • Yemen’s fertile highlands and coastal regions supported early human habitation and the development of agricultural techniques.

The Sabaean Kingdom (1200 BCE – 275 CE)

  • 1200 BCE – 275 CE: The Sabaean Kingdom, one of the most famous ancient civilizations of Arabia, was established in modern-day Yemen. It was located in the southwestern region of the Arabian Peninsula and centered around the city of Ma’rib.
  • The Sabaeans were known for their advanced irrigation systems, most notably the Ma’rib Dam, which allowed for the development of agriculture in an otherwise arid region.
  • Saba was also a key player in the incense trade, exporting frankincense and myrrh to Mediterranean and Middle Eastern markets.
  • Sheba and Biblical Connections: The Queen of Sheba, a figure mentioned in the Bible and the Quran, is often associated with the Sabaean Kingdom. She is believed to have visited King Solomon in ancient Israel.

The Himyarite Kingdom (110 BCE – 525 CE)

  • 110 BCE – 525 CE: The Himyarite Kingdom rose to prominence after the decline of the Sabaeans, eventually controlling most of Yemen and extending its influence into parts of the Arabian Peninsula and East Africa.
  • The Himyarites adopted Judaism as their state religion during the 4th century CE, and they were involved in regional conflicts with Christian and Zoroastrian powers such as the Aksumite Empire and the Sasanian Empire of Persia.

Islamic Era and the Caliphates (7th Century – 16th Century)

The Spread of Islam in Yemen (630s CE)

  • 630s CE: Islam was introduced to Yemen during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad. Yemen was one of the first regions outside of the Arabian heartland to embrace Islam. Muslim missionaries and delegations were sent to the region, and the various tribes of Yemen converted relatively peacefully.
  • Yemen played an important role in the early Islamic caliphates, with its people participating in the expansion of the Islamic Empire into North Africa, the Levant, and Persia.

The Rise of the Zaydi Imamate (897 CE – 1962 CE)

  • 897 CE: The Zaydi Imamate was established in northern Yemen by Imam al-Hadi Yahya, a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. Zaydi Islam, a branch of Shia Islam, became the dominant religious and political ideology in the highlands of northern Yemen.
  • The Zaydi Imamate maintained its influence over northern Yemen for more than a millennium, often clashing with other regional powers, including the Sunni caliphates and later the Ottomans.

The Rasulid Dynasty (1229 – 1454)

  • 1229 – 1454: The Rasulid Dynasty, a Sunni Muslim dynasty of Turkic origin, controlled much of southern Yemen. Their capital was established in Taiz, and the Rasulids presided over a period of relative stability and prosperity.
  • Yemen flourished as a center of trade and learning under the Rasulids, with ports like Aden becoming major hubs for Indian Ocean trade.

Ottoman and British Influence (16th Century – 20th Century)

First Ottoman Rule (1538 – 1636)

  • 1538 – 1636: The Ottoman Empire first extended its control over parts of Yemen in the 16th century, seeking to secure the strategically important Red Sea trade routes and protect their interests from Portuguese expansion in the Indian Ocean.
  • Despite initial success, the Ottomans faced stiff resistance from local Zaydi rulers in the highlands and were eventually forced to withdraw in 1636, leaving northern Yemen under Zaydi control.

British Control of Aden (1839 – 1967)

The Establishment of the British Colony in Aden (1839)

  • 1839: The British East India Company captured the port city of Aden, establishing it as a key refueling station and strategic outpost on the route to India. Aden became a British colony and an important naval base, attracting merchants and settlers from across the region.
  • British influence gradually expanded in southern Yemen, and they established protectorates over local sultanates and tribal regions in what became known as the “Aden Protectorate.”

Ottoman Return and Second Rule (1849 – 1918)

  • 1849 – 1918: The Ottomans returned to Yemen in the mid-19th century, re-establishing their rule over the northern highlands. However, their control was tenuous, and they frequently clashed with the Zaydi Imams, who maintained significant autonomy.
  • 1918: After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire following World War I, northern Yemen became an independent Zaydi kingdom under Imam Yahya Muhammad Hamid ed-Din, while southern Yemen remained under British control.

North and South Yemen (1918 – 1990)

The Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen (1918 – 1962)

  • 1918: Following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, Imam Yahya declared the establishment of the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen, a Zaydi monarchy in northern Yemen. The kingdom was characterized by its isolationist policies and resistance to foreign influence.
  • 1948: Imam Yahya was assassinated in a coup attempt, but his son, Imam Ahmad, quickly regained control and ruled until his death in 1962.
  • 1962: The monarchy was overthrown in a military coup that marked the beginning of the North Yemen Civil War. Republican forces, supported by Egypt’s President Gamal Abdel Nasser, sought to establish a republic, while royalist forces, backed by Saudi Arabia, fought to restore the imamate.

British Rule in South Yemen (Aden Protectorate) and Yemeni Nationalism

Yemeni Nationalist Movements (1950s – 1960s)

  • During the 1950s and 1960s, nationalist movements began to grow in southern Yemen, particularly in response to British colonial rule in Aden and the surrounding protectorates.
  • The rise of Arab nationalism and the influence of anti-colonial movements in the broader Arab world, led by figures like Nasser, inspired Yemeni nationalist groups, including the National Liberation Front (NLF) and the Front for the Liberation of Occupied South Yemen (FLOSY).

The Establishment of the Yemen Arab Republic (1962)

  • 1962: The North Yemen Civil War erupted following the military coup that deposed the monarchy. The coup leaders declared the establishment of the Yemen Arab Republic (YAR) in northern Yemen, with its capital in Sanaa.
  • The conflict became a proxy war between Egypt, which supported the republicans, and Saudi Arabia, which backed the royalists. The war lasted until 1970, when a ceasefire was reached, and the Yemen Arab Republic was internationally recognized.

The Creation of the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen (1967)

  • 1967: After years of guerrilla warfare and political unrest, the British withdrew from Aden, and the southern part of Yemen declared independence as the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY), commonly known as South Yemen.
  • South Yemen adopted a Marxist-Leninist ideology and aligned itself with the Soviet Union and other communist states. It became the only Marxist state in the Arab world, with its government based in Aden.

Unification and the Civil Wars (1990 – Present)

The Unification of North and South Yemen (1990)

  • May 22, 1990: The Yemen Arab Republic (North Yemen) and the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen (South Yemen) were formally united to create the modern Republic of Yemen. Ali Abdullah Saleh, the president of North Yemen, became the president of unified Yemen, while Ali Salim al-Beidh, the leader of South Yemen, became the vice president.
  • The unification was initially celebrated, but it quickly became apparent that deep political, economic, and cultural divisions between the north and south would pose significant challenges.

The Yemeni Civil War (1994)

  • 1994: Tensions between northern and southern political leaders escalated into a brief civil war, with southern leaders declaring secession and the re-establishment of South Yemen. Northern forces, led by President Saleh, launched a military offensive that successfully crushed the southern separatists and preserved the unity of Yemen.

Rise of the Houthi Movement (2000s)

  • 2004: The Houthi movement, a Zaydi Shia insurgency in northern Yemen, began an armed rebellion against the central government, accusing it of marginalizing the Zaydi minority and aligning too closely with Saudi Arabia and the United States.
  • The conflict between the Yemeni government and the Houthis continued sporadically throughout the 2000s, with periods of intense fighting and temporary ceasefires.

The Arab Spring and Political Crisis (2011)

  • 2011: Inspired by the broader Arab Spring movement, mass protests erupted in Yemen, demanding the resignation of President Saleh, who had ruled the country for over three decades.
  • After months of protests, political pressure, and violence, Saleh agreed to step down in 2012 as part of a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) brokered transition plan. He was succeeded by his vice president, Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who was tasked with leading a transitional government.

The Yemeni Civil War and Humanitarian Crisis (2014 – Present)

Houthi Takeover and the Escalation of Conflict (2014 – 2015)

  • 2014: The Houthis, taking advantage of the weak central government and growing dissatisfaction with President Hadi’s leadership, seized the capital, Sanaa, in September. They quickly expanded their control over much of northern and western Yemen.
  • 2015: In March, the conflict escalated when Hadi fled to Saudi Arabia, and a Saudi-led coalition, backed by the United States and other Western powers, launched a military intervention in Yemen, aiming to restore Hadi’s government and push back the Houthis.

Ongoing Civil War and Humanitarian Crisis

  • The civil war in Yemen has continued for years, with multiple factions vying for control, including the Houthi movement, forces loyal to Hadi, southern separatists, and Islamist militant groups like al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and the Islamic State (ISIS).
  • The conflict has created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with millions of Yemenis facing famine, disease outbreaks (such as cholera), and displacement. The war has also led to widespread destruction of infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and homes.
  • UN-led Peace Talks: Various international efforts, including United Nations-brokered peace talks, have sought to end the conflict, but progress has been slow, and ceasefires have often broken down.

Southern Separatism and the Southern Transitional Council

  • 2017: The Southern Transitional Council (STC), a political group backed by the United Arab Emirates, emerged in southern Yemen, advocating for the restoration of an independent South Yemen. The STC has clashed with both Hadi’s government and Houthi forces, further complicating the conflict.
  • Periodic violence between STC forces and pro-Hadi government troops in the southern city of Aden has added another layer of instability to the ongoing war.

2020 Ceasefire Agreements and Continued Challenges

  • 2020: Several ceasefire agreements were brokered in 2020, including a power-sharing deal between the Hadi government and the STC, known as the Riyadh Agreement. However, tensions between different factions and the persistence of Houthi control in the north have hindered efforts to establish lasting peace.
  • Despite the agreements, fighting and airstrikes continued in various parts of the country, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.