Himyarite Kingdom

Himyarite Kingdom was a state in Arabia (Middle East) that lasted from c. 110 BCE to 525 CE, about 634 years. Its people spoke Semitic languages (Akkadian, Amorite, Aramaic, Hebrew, Phoenician, Ge'ez, Amharic, Tigrinya).

Kingdom that united all of Yemen by about 300 CE. Its rulers adopted Judaism, and Dhu Nuwas's massacre of Christians at Najran brought an Aksumite invasion that ended the kingdom in 525.

See Himyarite Kingdom on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

c. 110 BCE to 525 CE

Duration

634 years

Type

State

Region

Arabia, Middle East

Language family

Semitic

Capital

Zafar, later Sanaa

Came from

• Kingdom of Saba c. 1000 BCE to 275 CE

Became

• Aksumite Yemen (Abraha) c. 525 to 570 CE

Events in Middle East during its time

• 53 BCE Battle of Carrhae
• 30 Crucifixion of Jesus
• 70 Romans destroy the Second Temple
• 301 Armenia adopts Christianity

Neighbours in Middle East

• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE
• Parthian Empire 247 BCE to 224 CE
• Sasanian Empire 224 to 651 CE
• Kingdom of Saba c. 1000 BCE to 275 CE
• Kingdom of Iberia (Kartli) c. 302 BCE to 580 CE
• Roman Anatolia 133 BCE to 395 CE
• Roman Syria and Judaea 64 BCE to 395 CE
• Arsacid Armenia 52 to 428 CE
• Palmyra c. 50 BCE to 273 CE
• Nabataean Kingdom c. 168 BCE to 106 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Europe
• Ghana Empire (Wagadu) c. 300 to 1200 CE, North and West Africa
• Kingdom of Aksum c. 100 to 940 CE, North and West Africa
• Moche (Mochica) c. 100 to 800 CE, South America
• Teotihuacan c. 100 BCE to 550 CE, Mesoamerica and Caribbean
• Tiwanaku c. 400 to 1000 CE, South America
• Roman Republic 509 to 27 BCE, Europe
• Roman Empire 27 BCE to 395 CE, Europe
• Kushan Empire c. 30 to 375 CE, South Asia
• Xiongnu Empire c. 209 BCE to 93 CE, Central and North Asia

Questions