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  • Yemen's Soqotra Island and the Dragon's Blood Tree

    Yemen's Soqotra Island and the Dragon's Blood Tree
    2026/07/18
    In this episode of The History of Yemen, Lucas and Luna explore the history and culture of Soqotra, the archipelago off the Horn of Africa that has been part of Yemen for centuries. They discuss the island's unique biodiversity, including the Dragon's Blood Tree, and its strategic importance in the Indian Ocean trade. The episode covers the early settlement of Soqotra, its mention in the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, the arrival of Christianity in the 4th century, the island's role in the medieval Indian Ocean network, and the Portuguese occupation in the 16th century. The story continues with the Mahra sultanate's control, the British protectorate period, and Soqotra's incorporation into modern Yemen. The episode highlights the challenges facing the island today, including environmental threats from climate change and the impact of Yemen's ongoing civil war. Along the way, Lucas and Luna reflect on the importance of preserving Soqotra's natural and cultural heritage. #Soqotra #DragonBloodTree #Yemen #IndianOceanTrade #PeriplusErythraeanSea #SoqotriLanguage #ChristianitySoqotra #PortugueseEmpire #MahraSultanate #Aden #Hadiboh #UNESCO #Biodiversity #ClimateChange #YemenCivilWar #History #FexingoHistory #MiddleEast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    6 分
  • The 1963 Qataban Excavation: Unearthing a Lost Kingdom

    The 1963 Qataban Excavation: Unearthing a Lost Kingdom
    2026/07/17
    In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the dramatic discovery and subsequent loss of the Qataban civilization, centered on the 1963 archaeological excavation at the site of Timna in Wadi Beihan. They discuss the pioneering work of American archaeologist Wendell Phillips and his team, who uncovered a pre-Islamic South Arabian kingdom that thrived on the incense trade. The conversation delves into the unique inscriptions, the temple of Attar, the royal palace of Yada'il Dharih, and the mysterious collapse of Qataban. They also touch on the challenges of archaeology in a conflict zone, the looting of artifacts, and what the remnants tell us about ancient Yemeni society, culture, and religion. This episode offers a fresh perspective on a lesser-known kingdom that once controlled the frankincense route. #Qataban #Timna #WendellPhillips #WadiBeihan #YemenArchaeology #IncenseTrade #Attar #Yada'ilDharih #SouthArabianKingdoms #FrankincenseRoute #AncientYemen #1963Excavation #ALAOS #Looting #PreIslamicYemen #History #FexingoHistory #MiddleEast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    7 分
  • The Yemeni Civil War: How a Failed State Became a Regional Proxy Battlefield

    The Yemeni Civil War: How a Failed State Became a Regional Proxy Battlefield
    2026/07/17
    In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the roots and trajectory of Yemen's ongoing civil war, from the 2011 uprising that ousted Ali Abdullah Saleh to the Houthi takeover of Sanaa in 2014 and the Saudi-led military intervention in 2015. They discuss the role of the Houthi movement's leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, the fragmentation of the Yemeni armed forces, the emergence of the Southern Transitional Council, and the humanitarian catastrophe that has left millions on the brink of famine. The conversation also touches on the involvement of regional powers like Iran and the United Arab Emirates, and the failed peace efforts that have marked the conflict. This episode provides a clear, specific overview of the key actors, battles, and turning points in one of the world's most devastating ongoing wars. #Yemen #YemenCivilWar #Houthi #AbdulMalikAlHouthi #AliAbdullahSaleh #SaudiArabia #Iran #UnitedArabEmirates #SouthernTransitionalCouncil #Sanaa #Aden #Mukalla #HumanitarianCrisis #ProxyWar #MiddleEast #War #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    8 分
  • Yemen's Forgotten King: The Himyarite Emperor Who Conquered Persia

    Yemen's Forgotten King: The Himyarite Emperor Who Conquered Persia
    2026/07/16
    In this episode of The History of Yemen, Lucas and Luna explore the remarkable reign of Tubba' Abu Karib As'ad, the Himyarite king who not only unified much of Yemen but also launched military campaigns as far as Persia. We trace his rise from the highlands of Zafar to his conquests across the Arabian Peninsula, his encounter with the Sasanian Empire, and the legendary accounts of his conversion to Judaism. Along the way, we discuss the ancient city of Raydan, the Himyarite confederation, and the writings of Procopius that hint at Yemen's forgotten imperial moment. This episode offers a fresh look at a pre-Islamic power that Rome and Persia both courted. #Himyar #TubbaAbuKaribAsad #Yemen #AncientYemen #KingdomOfHimyar #Zafar #Raydan #SasanianEmpire #PreIslamicArabia #Procopius #HimyariteJudaism #AncientHistory #MiddleEastHistory #ArabianPeninsula #YemenHistory #FexingoHistory #History #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    7 分
  • Yemen's Alabaster Road: Incense, Caravans, and the Lost City of Shabwa

    Yemen's Alabaster Road: Incense, Caravans, and the Lost City of Shabwa
    2026/07/16
    Long before coffee or qat, Yemen's greatest export was frankincense and myrrh — resins so precious they were called 'the sweat of the gods.' In this episode, Lucas and Luna follow the ancient incense route from the Hadhramaut to the Mediterranean, stopping at the lost city of Shabwa, capital of the kingdom of Hadhramaut. They explore how the trade shaped Yemen's kingdoms, the engineering of the camel caravans, and the role of the 'Incense Road' in connecting Arabia to the Roman world. Lucas explains the monopoly of the Minaeans and Sabaeans, the mysterious 'Frankincense Coast' (Dhofar), and the environmental toll that led to the route's decline. He also unpacks the excavation of Shabwa by French archaeologists and what it reveals about a civilization that thrived on scent. Along the way, Luna asks about the 'incense trees' themselves, the dangers of the journey, and why this trade collapsed when it did. The episode ends with a meditation on what Yemen's ancient economy can teach us about its current crisis. #Yemen #IncenseRoad #Frankincense #Myrrh #Shabwa #Hadhramaut #AncientTrade #CaravanRoutes #Minaean #Sabaean #Dhofar #RomanTrade #Archaeology #AncientHistory #MiddleEastHistory #FexingoHistory #TradeRoutes #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    9 分
  • The Yemeni Armed Forces: From Royal Guard to Fractured Command

    The Yemeni Armed Forces: From Royal Guard to Fractured Command
    2026/07/15
    This episode traces the transformation of Yemen's armed forces from the 1962 revolution through the modern civil war. Lucas and Luna examine how Abdullah al-Sallal built a republican army with Egyptian support, the shifting loyalties of the Hashid and Bakil tribal confederations, the 1978 creation of the elite Republican Guard by Ali Abdullah Saleh, and the catastrophic split of 2011 when General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar defected. They discuss the role of the 1st Armored Division, the 2014 Houthi takeover of General Command headquarters, and the fragmentation into warring factions including the Saudi-backed Giants Brigades and the Houthi-controlled forces. The episode highlights the paradox of Yemen's military: a state institution that has always been deeply intertwined with tribal and personal loyalties, and whose successive fractures have shaped every major conflict since the 1960s. #YemenMilitary #AbdullahAlSallal #AliAbdullahSaleh #AliMohsenAlAhmar #RepublicanGuard #Hashid #Bakil #Houthi #GiantsBrigades #1962Coup #YemenCivilWar #1stArmoredDivision #GeneralCommand #SaudiArabia #MiddleEast #History #FexingoHistory #ModernWarfare Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    14 分
  • The Yemeni Qat Economy: From Ancient Stimulant to Modern Crisis

    The Yemeni Qat Economy: From Ancient Stimulant to Modern Crisis
    2026/07/15
    In this episode of The History of Yemen, Lucas and Luna dive into the story of qat — the leafy stimulant that has shaped Yemeni society for centuries. From its origins as a Sufi devotional aid in the 14th century to its post-1960s explosion into a mass-market commodity, they trace how qat went from curiosity to economic anchor. Learn about al-Aidarous's famous defense of qat, the role of British Aden in spreading consumption, the impact of qat on Yemen's water crisis and GDP — it now accounts for over 10% of the economy — and President Ali Abdullah Saleh's cynical tax policies that made the habit politically untouchable. The episode also examines the gendered economics of qat, the connection to the ancient coffee trade, and how chewing sessions became the real center of political power in modern Yemen. A nuanced look at a plant that holds Yemen in a gentle, green grip. #Qat #Yemen #History #Khat #CathaEdulis #AliAbdullahSaleh #Sufi #Zabid #Aden #Coffee #WaterCrisis #Economy #Sanaa #Mafish #AlAidarous #Chewing #FexingoHistory #MiddleEast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    7 分
  • The Yemeni Coffee Trade: Mocha's Global Legacy

    The Yemeni Coffee Trade: Mocha's Global Legacy
    2026/07/14
    In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the fascinating history of Yemen's coffee trade, from its origins in the Sufi monasteries of the 15th century to its global impact. They discuss the port of Mocha (al-Mukha), which gave its name to the world's favorite coffee drink, and the complex political and economic dynamics that shaped the trade. Topics include the role of the Ottoman Empire, the rise of European coffeehouses, the smuggling of coffee plants out of Yemen, and the eventual decline of Yemen's coffee monopoly. Along the way, they touch on the social and religious controversies surrounding coffee, including the 'coffee fatwa' in Cairo and Mecca. This episode offers a rich, specific look at a commodity that changed the world, all while connecting it to Yemen's broader history. #Yemen #CoffeeHistory #Mocha #AlMukha #Sufi #OttomanEmpire #CoffeeTrade #BabaBudean #CoffeeFatwa #TradeRoutes #RedSea #Aden #Zabid #CoffeeSmuggling #Qahwa #HistoryOfCoffee #FexingoHistory #MiddleEast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    6 分