HIMYARITE

The Himyarite timeline begins with their status as a fledgling power under the dominance of the Qataban Kingdom [i]. Around 110 BCE, as the Qataban Kingdom began to decline providing space for the Himyarite Kingdom to grow. Over time, religious infighting plagued the kingdom and caused instability. By this time, Judaism had become the religion of the kingdom, and by the 6th century CE religious conflict began to fracture the state. When Christianity became the main religion, exiled Jewish nobles enlisted the help of the Persian Sasanian dynasty [ii] in 570 to invade Himyarite. This Persian conquest brought the Himyarite Kingdom to its end.

The Himyarite Kingdom was initially a vassal of the Qabatan Kingdom. As they flipped the scales of dominance, they began to absorb other regional rivals including the Qabatans. They vanquished their greatest rival after usurping the kingdom of Zafar. With no other regional rivals, the Himyarite Kingdom during its height in the 3rd Century traded frequently with the Roman Empire [iii]. While this did not develop into a proclaimed alliance, the Himyarite Kingdom was a vital piece of Rome’s ivory trade from India, and thus necessitated good relations. Their largest rival came at their decline, with the conquest of the Sasanian Dynasty from Persia.

Much of the modern influence that surrounds the Himyarite Kingdom revolves around its identity as a Jewish state. The Himyarite Kingdom, not only is one of few to be identified as such, but also existed as a Jewish state for roughly 300 years. Thus, the Himyarite Kingdom provides scholars today with insight into how Jewish culture and religion [iv] came to interact with other regions during its diaspora. This included the evolution of traditions, conversion, and understanding Jewish life in the Middle East [v] prior to the expansion of Islam. The modern populations of Yemenite-Jewish people can trace their ancestry [vi] to the Himyarite Kingdom

The Himyarite Kingdom was governed throughout most of its lifespan [vii] by a Jewish monarchy. King Tub'a Abu Kariba As'ad is believed to have been the first king to convert [viii] around 380 CE. Residents of the kingdom referred to their home as Raydan. Thename, “Himyarite,” derived from the Greek and Latin name, “Homerite,” was a departure from the original and localized name, Raydan. The name Raydan, came from the tribe in which the ruling family came from, known as dhū-Raydān. From their capital Zafar (near present day Sana’a), Himyarite monarchs ruled with total and absolute power that was passed down to the eldest son of a king following his death.

The Himyarites held power in present day southern Yemen for nearly 700 years. Helping to chauffeur important goods between Rome and East Africa, their economy and control over vital trade routes remained key to their strength. Their golden age likely occurred between 25 CE and 300 CE as both their culture flourished. Slowly, over a period of 300 years, the Himyarite Kingdom conquered their neighbors eventually absorbing the Kingdom of Zafar (their future capital city) into their empire by 280 CE. During this time their borders nearly tripled in size as well through the absorption of the Qataban, Hadhramaut [ix], and Sabaean [x] kingdoms.

The rise and subsequent dominance of the Himyarite Kingdom during its existence remains the state’s greatest accomplishment. The Himyarite Kingdom was once a vassal of the Qataban Kingdom, but successfully overthrew its ruling class entirely in the span of nearly 200 years. And continued to rule the area for another 200 after that. They birthed a vibrant Arab-Jewish culture [xi] who’s memory is still studied today, largely through the Mizrahi diaspora [xii]. At their height, the majority of modern-day Yemen was under their singular empire, conquering the Sabaaen, Qataban, and Hadhramaut kingdoms that spanned Yemen at the time.

Little is written about the Himyarite economy in scholarly works. However, it is noted that their economy was highly centered around agriculture and crop production. Foreign exports usually consisted of resins such as frankincense and myrrh [xiii]. Due to their location directly on the Gulf of Aden, they also acted as an intermediary between worlds. They played a vital role in the ivory trade [xiv], getting Indian ivory to Rome and the Mediterranean Sea. The Himyarite Kingdom controlled vast swathes of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. They used this to tax merchant ships and direct the flow of trade through borders. The system remained in place until the kingdom’s demise.