The 7th Century Persian Occupation of Yemen

Before the rise of Islam, Yemen was caught in a brutal war between two ancient empires: Sassanid Persia and Aksumite Ethiopia. This episode dives into the Persian occupation of Yemen under Wahriz, the overthrow of the Aksumite viceroy Masruq ibn Abraha, and the establishment of a Persian satrapy that lasted nearly 50 years. We explore the geopolitical chess game between Khosrow I and the Negus of Aksum, the famous story of the Persian prisoner Sayf ibn Dhi Yazan who sought help from the Shah, and how Yemen became a flashpoint in the wider Roman-Persian rivalry. The episode also touches on the cultural legacy of the Persian presence, including the introduction of the qanat irrigation system and the mysterious 'al-Abna' community of Persian descendants who later played a role in the Islamic conquests. A little-known but pivotal chapter in Yemen's long history of empire and resistance.

#Yemen #SassanidEmpire #AksumiteEmpire #KhosrowI #SayfIbnDhiYazan #Wahriz #MasruqIbnAbraha #PersianOccupation #Qanat #AlAbna #RomanPersianWars #HimyariteKingdom #Negus #Sanaa #Maarib #History #FexingoHistory #MiddleEastHistory

Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo