The Port of Aden: Yemen's Ancient Trade Hub Connecting Three Continents

This episode explores the ancient port of Aden in Yemen, a pivotal hub in Indian Ocean trade for over two millennia. We trace its rise from a Roman-era emporium to a key node in the spice and incense routes, linking the Mediterranean, East Africa, and India. Learn about the Himyarite kingdom's control of the frankincense trade, the port's role in the Roman-Indian spice commerce, and its transformation under Islamic rule. We also discuss the legendary 'Aden's tanks' — ancient cisterns that sustained the city — and the port's decline after the Portuguese disruption. Figures like the Roman merchant from the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, the Himyarite king Tha'ran Yuhan'im, and the 10th-century geographer Ibn Hawqal feature. Refreshments on Sogdians and Radhanites provide context, but the focus is on Aden's unique position as a gateway where monsoon winds shaped history. #Aden #Yemen #IndianOceanTrade #SpiceTrade #IncenseRoute #HimyariteKingdom #PeriplusOfTheErythraeanSea #RomanTrade #Frankincense #AncientPorts #MaritimeHistory #IbnHawqal #AdenCisterns #TradeRoutes #WorldHistory #AncientEconomies #FexingoHistory #History #SilkRoad #HanDynasty Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo