Aden, in Arabia

Title

Aden, in Arabia

Bird's-eye view of the port city of Aden on the Gulf of Aden in Yemen with two sailing ships offshore.

ca. 1595

Artist

Valegio (1560-)

Francesco Valegio (born 1560) was an italien painter, Lithograph and publisher in Venice until around 1580.

Historical Description

Aden was already an important trading port in the 8th century BC under the ancient empires of Ausan and Saba. After a period of decline from the 3rd century onwards, the city experienced a major economic boom again from the 12th century under the Ayyubids and Rasulids, when it became a hub for trade between India and Egypt at the time of the Ayyubids and Mamluks. In 1548, Piri Reis succeeded in conquering Aden, which was occupied by the Portuguese King John III, for the Ottoman Empire. In 1839, the British conquered the town, which was located on a peninsula and was still an insignificant village at the time. It was fortified and developed into an important coal and goods depot for ships. The strategic importance of the port, which was the only deep-sea port on the southern Arabian coast when steamships were introduced, resulted from trade relations with India (Indian trade). England placed the city under the control of the government in Bombay, but in 1864 the resident there was given far-reaching governmental powers. Since the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, the city's importance increased as it was home to an important naval station. Aden also experienced a great boom as a trading port, and soon the port of Steamer Point, 10 km from the city, was the third largest seaport of its time with transit and intermediate trade in coffee, hides and rubber. In 1937, the city was elevated to an independent crown colony as the "Colony of Aden" and separated from the British presidency of Bombay in India. Between 1963 and 1967, Aden was part of the South Arabian Federation as the "State of Aden". lthough Aden gained independence from Great Britain with South Yemen in 1967 and also became the capital of the new state, the Suez Canal was blocked in the same year as a result of the Six-Day War, making the port of Aden less important for international shipping. When the Suez Canal was reopened eight years later, other port cities had taken over Aden's role.