Page 19 - Su'udi Relations with Eastern Arabi & Uman (1800-1870)

CHAPTER II

EASTERN ARABIA AND ‘UMAN:
HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

The Arabian peninsula—named after the people who have been the sole
inhabitants of this part of the world for centuries, sharing a common origin,
language, culture, and history—forms a vast rectangle about one and a quarter
million square miles in area. It is bordered in the north by the chain of
territories commonly known as the Fertile Crescent (Mesopotamia, Syria,
Palestine, and their desert border lands), in the east by the Persian Gulf, in the
south by the Indian Ocean, and in the west by the Red Sea.
Throughout its history, Arabia has seen the rise and fall of kingdoms great
and small and has witnessed both unity and diversity in the political condition
of its regions. The homogeneity of its people has not brought about their unity
under a certain dynasty or a collective leadership. Neither has the
topographical variety of Arabia, ranging from the high mountainous areas to
low-lying coastal regions and vast desert lands, succeeded in convincing the
successive petty states and lordships in the peninsula to recognize natural
boundaries and confine their sovereignty within these limits. The frontiers of a
certain domain can be extended at the expense of another as far as tribal
allegiance and support through warfare may allow, and can be reduced as a
result of withdrawal of that same allegiance and support. The vastness of the
peninsula and the remoteness of its areas from well-established governments
during medieval times encouraged certain ambitious families to set up
dynasties with limited realms and power in various parts, such as the Zaydi
Imamate in Yam an39 and the IbadI Imamate in ‘Uman,40 both of which
continued to survive until very recently. Other smaller dynasties and lordships
in eastern and central Arabia were short-lived. The countries under
consideration in central and eastern Arabia and ‘Uman have individual local
histories and patterns of development. In the heart of the peninsula lies the
region of Najd,41 stretching from the eastern slopes of al-Hijaz and ‘Aslr
mountains in the west to al-Dahna,42 in the east, and from Nufud in the north
to al-Rub‘ al-Khali43 in the south. The region is traversed by several valleys in
which most of the oases and towns are located. Traditionally, Najd is divided
into various districts populated by completely settled Arab tribes such as
Tamlm, or else by partially settled tribes such as those of‘Anazah, ‘Utaybah,
Harb, Mutayr, Shammar, Subay‘, Dawasir, Qahtan, al-Murrah, al-‘Ujman,
ail-Suhul and al-Zaftr. With the exception of the establishment of Bedouin

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