Himyarites

The Himyarites were an ancient South Arabian people who established a powerful and wealthy kingdom in southern Arabia around 100 BCE to 500 CE. They controlled important trade routes, especially for frankincense and myrrh, which contributed to their prosperity. Their society was organized with a central monarchy and they practiced a mix of paganism and later Christianity. The Himyarite Kingdom played a significant role in regional politics, engaging with neighboring powers like the Roman Empire and Ethiopia. Their influence declined after the rise of Islamic states, but they left a lasting cultural and historical legacy in Yemen.