Aden City “ A Historical Outlook”:
Aden was one of the
rich ancient Arab Cities. It had a deep rooted history dating back to 3000 and
was mentioned in the Mousnad inscriptions. It was also mentioned in the Old
Testament as “Eden”. Through history BC up to the contemporary date. Aden
witnessed many historical events but it did not lose its position as an
important seaport linking the Indian ocean and the Mediterranean as the Asian
Trade was coming through the Old Aden port at Sirah bay, then to be carried , by
the Yemenite caravans to the north so as to be distributed to the ancient Orient
and there from to the ancient world. Hence persisted movement of trade between
the West and Orient. The weakness of the role of Aden as an important seaport
due to some political changes in the consecutive states through history and the
transfer of the seaport either to Qana in Shabwa on the Arabian sea or to
Mawza’a and Mokha on the Red Sea, but Aden Seaport reverts quickly to its
natural functioning in pioneering as a matchless seaport.
Furthermore, Aden
was one of the ancient famous Arabian Markets, there used to be held an annual
market during the first ten days of Ramadan . The most important of what used to
be exhibited in Aden Market of Yemenite products, the perfumeries and perfumes
of Aden Manufacture like Adam, Brood, Dyes. Aden was famous for the manufacture
of the best fragrances in the world. It was also the starting point for the
camel caravans through the road known as the Asa’ad Pathway. After the advent of
Islam. The Arabian towns entered a new stage characterized in its first stages
by taking interest in construction of mosques; spread of Islamic sermon givers
in the main cities of which Aden was one. Thus in Aden the famed Mosque of Aban
was built which is attributed to Aban Bun Othman Bin Affan and dates back to the
second Half of the first century AH. Towards the end of the 7th
century AD. Aden continued as an Islamic metropolitan and a starting point for
pilgrimage and traders for from Aden used to spring out many roads and paths, of
which some were along the shoreline to Jeddah or through the mountains and
Plateau to Mecca. At the beginning of the Independence of the Yemenite States
from the Center of the Islamic Caliphate, the activity of Aden seaport was
linked to those states which took turn in ruling Yemen or parts of Yemen as from
the date of establishment of the Ziyadaite State. At the beginning of the ninth
Century AD passing through the control of Bani Ma’an, then the rise of Ali Bin
Al Fadal the Qarmatin with his call. Aden was one of his main cities.
Then the influence
continued by the Najahide State. Then the Sullayyhides till Aden became a
capital of the Ziraite State which continued as of 1083 till 1173 AD. Then Aden
entered under the rule of the Ayyubides as of 1147AD till 1229 Ad. Then the
Rasullides as of 1226-1454 AD, then fell under the last Islamic Yemenite State
at the beginning of modern history “ The Tahiride State as of 1446 AD to 1507
AD. These consequent in Aden all the defense fortresses and fortifications at
the Mountains change enclosing it represented in fortresses, forts, walls,
Bridges, Cisterns, Roads .. etc,, at the beginning of the modern history at the
16th century AD, Aden became an objective for the Portuguese –Ottoman
Contention. When the ottomans ruled Yemen during the first period as of 1538AD
till 1635AD , they transferred Aden into an advanced belligerent fort so as to
face the Portuguese ambitions in the Arabian sea which in turn weakened the
commercial importance of Aden Seaport and the loss of its prosperity factors and
thus the main prosperous seaport was that of Mokha. The second important reason
which annihilated the role of Aden was the commerce in Yemeni coffee instead of
Eastern Condiments whose Transit Trade caused Aden to prosper.
The Coffee Trade
through the Port of Mokha (Mokha) was the new economic base and as a commercial
trade between the East and the Mediterranean through 16th, 17th, 18th
centuries AD. Aden seaport continued to deteriorate. Till the British
Colonialism occupied Aden in 1839 till 1967AD.
The Old Port of Aden
at the foot of Sirah Fortresses continued just for ten years after occupation
due to its cover with sedimentation due its negligence due the past period. Also
other changes took place regard to the size of ships after the discovery of
steam from coal in addition to the fact that the old port worked during the
seasonal months only. Thus the port of Aden moved to Al Tauahi and Maala became
its northern tip and was called the backyard seaport. In 1869 AD. AL Maala and
Tawahi extended due to the activity of the modern port and during the prosperity
of coal trade as fuel source Aden port reclaimed its importance in Trade
Commerce and the introduction and catering services to the ships.
Maala was famous for
Shipwrighting and this is an ancient trade known by Yemen for millenniums. At
the beginning of Exploitation of Petroleum instead of Coal as of 1928 AD the big
ships used to dock in the port and the Trade average between East and West rose
to great heights and thus the importance Aden flourished and its services were
made ever made ever viable let alone construction of Warehouses for Petroleum at
the Western extremity of Maala. The Fish Quarters enlarged and so did the
construction activity and establishment of modern facilities as witnessed today.
The current status
for historical and Tourist Features in Aden
Old Aden Town
Located in the
Creater and surrounded by Shamsan mountains from one side and the sea from the
other sides. Most of its houses and streets date back to the end of the 19th
century. The architectural style prevailing in Aden is a mix of the elements of
Yemenite, Indian and Victorian architecture. The city includes important sites
such as Al-Aidrus mosque and Minaret dating back to 500 years ago, and the old
market with its special flavor perfumed with the smell of Adenite incense.
Defensive Fortifications:
Sira Fort:
The guard post of
Aden city and a symbol of its safety .It stands atop a mountain at the sea
entrance. It overlooks the old port and dates back to more than one thousands
years ago.
Forts and Towers
The city of Aden is
surrounded by series of walls and towers dating back to more than one thousand
years. They were built by several dynasties starting with Banni Zurai’ and
ending with the British. Aden gate was until recently the most important of
those fortification. It was demolished during the Sixties of this century.
Aden Tanks (Cisterns or Reservoirs)
They are located at
the head of Attawila Wadi at the Southwest of Creater and is considered one of
the great historical engineering works in Yemen. It was, first built in the
ancient time and was mentioned in Al- Musnad inscriptions.
The tanks system
developed throughout the successive stages of history from Bani Zurai Resulides
and Tahrides until they were buried and then discovered by the British in the
Mid 19th century .The British’s need of water made them attempt to
modify the tanks original design, which witnessed several trails and then the
British failed and gave up the tanks were designed both to collect the scarce
rain water and divert run off to protect the city of Aden, in case of heavy
rains and sweeping floods. They amounted to 53 tank only 13 remained. Today they
are a tourist attraction.
Al-Tawahi Port
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about Yemen
