'Persian Gulf Gazetteer. Part I. Historical and Political Materials. Précis of Nejd Affairs, 1804-1904' [‎2] (10/68)

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Moseilemah, maintained such a stout resistance, that the men of Hejaz were
obliged to offer terms. The result was that the people of Nejd retained their
liberty and independence on the condition of making a nominal profession
of Islam.
4. During the eleven centuries which intervened between the rise of Islam
in the seventh century, and the outbreak
General viev> of Arabia : the old empire of Yemen. of ^ Wahabig in the eighteenth Century,
the history of Arabia Is almost a blank. The progress of affairs, however, was
largely influenced by previous events, which have been much neglected by his
torians, but which may, perhaps, be briefly indicated here. It appears that,
about a century before the advent of Mahomet, the old empire of Yemen, of
which dim memorials are preserved in Himyaritic inscriptions, was already on
the decline. Originally established in Southern Arabia, it had gradually extended
over the Hejaz, Nejd, and Oman, and also over an undefined territory beyond
the exact limits of those provinces. This Yemanite empire was broken up by
Abyssinian invasions. On the north-west the territory of Ghassan was finally
absorbed in the Byzantine empire. On the north-east the territory of Heira,
in like manner, became an outlying province of Persia, which was at that time
under the dominion of the Sassanides. On the south the Yemanite dynasty was
subsequently resuscitated by a Himayarite Chief, who drove out the Abyssi
nian invaders, and established his rule over a large and important territory, of
which Oman was a viceroyalty; but this Yemanite dynasty, like that of Heira,
was compelled to pay tribute to Persia. In the centre the rude clans of Nejd
established their independence, and exercised a supremacy over other quarters
of the peninsula.
Tour Oovirnmenit »• Arabia at tia advent of 6. At the advent of IMahomet there
K ahomtt ' were thus four different G-orernments in
Arabia
Ut—The Byzantine empire on the north-west, which had extended its
frontier to within an easy distance of Medina.
2nd —The Persian province of Heira on the north-east, which extended
from the lower Euphrates to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and inland to the limits of
Nejd Proper.
3rd, —The Yemanite rule, including Oman, and also paying tribute to
Persia.
4th. —The Nejd tribes on the central table land, who were grouped round
the prophet Moseilemah.
Besides these four Governments, several small but energetic Jewish com
munities possessed independent strongholds. The Bedouin tribes also, who had
been emancipated by the great convulsion which had rent Central and Northern
Arabia from the empire of Yemen, had obtained considerable importance, and
did much to aggravate the prevailing confusion.
6. The political idea of Mahomet and his companions in Hejaz was to
■ ^ „ , , • , r- conquer the entire peninsula, and brins:
Trogrett of Mustulman conquest %n Arabia. j , -i • • V -i . . 0
it under one law, religion, and dominion.
The result is a matter of history. The Greeks were vanquished, and the
authority of the Byzantine empire was banished for ever from Arabia. The
Persian authority in Heira was overthrown by the fiery enthusiasm of the early
Mussulmans. The people of Yemen suffered themselves to be incorporated
into the Hejaz empire almost without a blow. The Jews were either driven
out or extinguished. The people of Nejd alone stood aloof under their prophet
Moseilemah, and only gave in a nominal adherence after a severe and obstinate
struggle. Under such circumstances, the people of Nejd still nourished a bitter
hatred against Hejaz and Islam, and naturally yielded to the tendency to
abandon their allegiance to the prophet of Hejaz, and to return to their ancient
customs and institutions.
7. Here it may be remarked that the political strength of Islam lay in the
Tolitieal condition of Arabia between the seventh fact that it Was a rallying point for all
and eighteenth centuries. ^ the dwellers in toWUS and enthusiastic
lovers of Arab freedom, against the lawlessness of the Bedouin marauders and

'Persian Gulf Gazetteer. Part I. Historical and Political Materials. Précis of Nejd Affairs, 1804-1904' [‎2] (10/68)

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'Persian Gulf Gazetteer. Part I. Historical and Political Materials. Précis of Nejd Affairs, 1804-1904' [‎2] (10/68)

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