The Edge of Chaos
On the Edge of Chaos
Laura L. Parker
Baker College
HIS411
May 25, 2011
On the Edge of Chaos
Yemen is a country immersed in intense political conflict as its people struggle with day-to-day survival. This country has a long history of turmoil and upheaval in regards to its political leadership and structure. Tribal conflict has plagued Yemen since ancient times and remains an issue to this day. The struggle to build and maintain a truly democratic government continues now, while the battle over geographic boundaries and their control has only recently been resolved. Yemen is one of the poorest countries in the world and the poorest in the Arabian Peninsula despite its oil production, rich heritage, numerous historically significant sites, and diverse geographic regions. Even with these resources, and a people that is said to be resilient and resourceful, this country seems to linger on the edge of chaos.
Ancient Yemen The chaos in Yemen is not a new development; it is a legacy. The Yemen of today is recognized officially as one nation, but the century’s old tribal system remains powerful and politically significant. The region that we now call Yemen is part of the area once called Arabia Felix, or fortunate Arabia because of its unusually fertile land and vegetation (NMSU, n.d.). The foundation for the political and social structure of ancient Yemen was based on the tribal system, but in the form of kingdoms (Manea, 1996). The three kingdoms of ancient Yemen where named after certain tribes; the Ma’ien, Shiebah, and Himiar. It is believed by some historians that the leaders of these tribes were particularly powerful, and as a result were able to bring the tribes together into unified kingdoms, becoming the kings of these tribes and the regions (Manea, 1996). Although the kingdoms unified the tribes, over time there became a functional separation between the ruling monarchs and the tribal leadership.
The
Laura L. Parker
Baker College
HIS411
May 25, 2011
On the Edge of Chaos
Yemen is a country immersed in intense political conflict as its people struggle with day-to-day survival. This country has a long history of turmoil and upheaval in regards to its political leadership and structure. Tribal conflict has plagued Yemen since ancient times and remains an issue to this day. The struggle to build and maintain a truly democratic government continues now, while the battle over geographic boundaries and their control has only recently been resolved. Yemen is one of the poorest countries in the world and the poorest in the Arabian Peninsula despite its oil production, rich heritage, numerous historically significant sites, and diverse geographic regions. Even with these resources, and a people that is said to be resilient and resourceful, this country seems to linger on the edge of chaos.
Ancient Yemen The chaos in Yemen is not a new development; it is a legacy. The Yemen of today is recognized officially as one nation, but the century’s old tribal system remains powerful and politically significant. The region that we now call Yemen is part of the area once called Arabia Felix, or fortunate Arabia because of its unusually fertile land and vegetation (NMSU, n.d.). The foundation for the political and social structure of ancient Yemen was based on the tribal system, but in the form of kingdoms (Manea, 1996). The three kingdoms of ancient Yemen where named after certain tribes; the Ma’ien, Shiebah, and Himiar. It is believed by some historians that the leaders of these tribes were particularly powerful, and as a result were able to bring the tribes together into unified kingdoms, becoming the kings of these tribes and the regions (Manea, 1996). Although the kingdoms unified the tribes, over time there became a functional separation between the ruling monarchs and the tribal leadership.
The
References: Liberation News. Retrieved May 14, 2011 from http://pslweb.org/liberationnews/ news/growing-movement-in-yemen.html Campo, Juan E Manea, E. ( October 11, 1996) Yemen, the tribe and the state. International Colloquium on Islam and Social Change. www.al-bab.com. Retrieved on May 15, 2011 from http:// www.al-bab.com/yemen/soc/manea1.htm New Mexico State University, Albuquerque, Department of Computer Science. (n.d.) Ancient Yemen. Retrieved on May 15, 2011 from http://www.cs.nmsu.edu/~fmohamed/ancient-ye.html University of Texas Library Yemen. (2011) Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Retrieved May12, 2011 from http:// www.britannica.com/ EBchecked/topic/652831/Yemen. Yemen: History Yemen Map. (n.d.) Retrieved May 25, 2011 from http://www.worldlicenseplates.com/ world/AS_YEMN.html Yemen Map Yemen-Timeline (2011) BBC News. Retreived May 15, 2011 from http://news.bbc.co.uk/ 2/hi/middle_east/country_profiles/1706450.stm