ZIYADID

The Ziyadid Dynasty came into power in 820 after Muhammad ibn Ziyad was sent by the Abbasid [i] caliph to calm the many uprisings in the region. Ziyad saw an opportunity for the weakening of the Abbasid caliph [ii] and seized power by force, establishing the city of Zabid. During the tenure of the dynasty, Zabid became a major economic and educational center in the region. Palestinian geographer al-Muqaddasi [iii] described the city as the “Baghdad of Yemen,” during the Golden Age of the Islamic Empire. Ziyadid had a colorful reign until 1018 when those enslaved by the dynasty revolted [iv] and ended their rule.

The city of Zabid was a major international hub with a strategically beneficial location which drew the attention of several groups that wanted to reap these location benefits. In 890 Yemen was divided into two political groups: the Yu’firids, and Mandkhis [v]. Ziyadid overtook the Abbasids but aligned with Sunni Abbasids [vi]. Being an economic hub off the coast of the Red Sea, trade networks were vast between the Ziyadid Dynasty and the Habasha and Dahlak [vii]. civilizations (modern-day Ethiopia and Eritrea), who traded amber, panther skins, and enslaved people. Ironically, the eventual downfall of the Ziyadid Dynasty came from within when those enslaved by the empire revolted.

Ziyadid’s enduring influence in modern-day Yemen begins within the founding city of Zabid. Since 1993, Zabid became a UNESCO World Heritage Site [viii] as its Islamic University was key to the spread of Islamic knowledge throughout the SWANA region. Ziyadid, even after its collapse, has had great influence over a ruling system of politics known as a Zaydi Imamate. The Zaydi Imamate [ix] remained a political stronghold until 1960 during the Yemen Civil War [x]. Today, the Houthis rebels are closest to the political group associated with the Zaydi branch. It is estimated around 30% of Yemen’s [xi] population associates itself with the Zaydi branch.

The Ziyadid’s ruling system is founded on Islamic jurisprudence known as Zaydi Shia. The Zaydi rule of law is based on the teachings of Zayd ibn Ali, which were written in Majmu’ al-Fiqh [xii]. Ziyadid law was headed by an Emir, which is a figure that can be equated to a political monarch and spiritual leader acting as the head of state. However, unlike a monarch leader, Emirs must be direct descendants of Muhammad the Prophet. This ruling system, known as the Yemeni imamate, would rule or have some political influence in modern-day Yemen until the 1960s [xiii] when the civil war began.

Established in 820, the medieval period dynasty of Ziyadid was established in 820 and named after its founder, Muhammad ibn Ziyad. Ziyad created a settlement called Zabid, also named after himself, which was the center of the dynasty’s control. Zabid grew into a major economic and educational center in the medieval Islamic world. The Ziyadid Dynasty was overthrown from within in 1018 when an individual named Najah who was enslaved by the rulers [xiv] assassinated Muhammad ibn Ziyad. Despite this, the Ziyadid’s influence endured for more than a thousand years as even today 30% of Yemen’s population identifies with the Zaydi state.

The Ziyadid’s key accomplishments during its 200-year reign were its education, infrastructure, and economic trade. Zabid, the civilization’s most prominent city was nicknamed ”the Baghdad of Yemen” [xv] for its rich education and culture within the city. The Ziyadid Dynasty also erected several mosques [xvi] throughout the region to help travelers anywhere between Mecca and Oman, the congregational mosque [xvii] was the grandest of all the mosques built. These routes allowed great economic opportunity by establishing markets in remote areas. Zabid’s success was further enhanced by the wadi flowing [xviii] which allowed extensive irrigation farming that would attract people to Zabid.

Ziyadid’s location was pivotal to its economic success. Thanks to its strategic location bordering both the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden and its established roadways, the Ziyadid Dynasty could access easy trade routes between Africa and throughout the Arabian Peninsula. The Ziyadid Civilization also had a wadi going near the city of Zabid to produce agriculture for trade and consumption in the Arabian region and allowed the dynasty to thrive in this area. The Zyadid Dynasty was also able to visit the Habasha and Dahlak civilizations by boat to trade a number of goods and commodities of the time [xix].