Arabia (satrapy)

Arabia was a satrapy (province) of the Achaemenid Empire and later of the Sassanid Empire, by the name of Arabâya.

Achaemenid Era[edit]

Achaemenid Arabia corresponded to the lands between Egypt and Mesopotamia, known as Arabia Petraea. According to Herodotus, the Cambyses did not subdue the Arabs when he attacked Egypt in 525 BCE. His successor Darius the Great does not mention the Arabs in the Behistun inscription from the first years of his reign, but mentions them in later texts. This suggests that Darius conquered this part of Arabia.^[1]

Interestingly, Arabs were not considered as subjects to the Achaemenids, as other peoples were, and were exempt from taxation. Instead, they simply provided 1000 talents of frankincense a year. They also helped the Achaemenids invade Egypt by providing water skins to the troops crossing the desert.^[2]

Sassanid Era[edit]

Sassanid Arabistan reached across upper Mesopotamia toward the Khabur and north to the lower districts of Armenia. The area was a constant area of contention between Rome (and later the Byzantines) and the Sassanids, who fought over Mesopotamia.^[3]

See also[edit]

• Arabia

References[edit]

v t e Provinces of the Achaemenid Empire (Behistun, Persepolis, Naqsh-e Rustam, Susa, Susa foundation charter and Daiva inscriptions) Across the sea Akaufaka Arabia Arachosia Aria Armenia Assyria Babylonia Bactria Cappadocia Caria Chorasmia Dahae Drangiana 1st Egyptian Satrapy / 2nd Egyptian Satrapy Eber-Nari Elam Gandhara Gedrosia Hyrcania Ionia Hindush Libya Maka Media Parthia Persia Quadia Saka Sardis Sattagydia Skudra Sogdia Yehud See also Districts of the Achaemenid Empire according to Herodotus

v t e Provinces of the Sassanid Empire Abarshahr Adiabene Albania Arabistan Aria Armenia Asuristan Atropatene Balasagan Carmania Elam Egypt Hyrcania Iberia India Kushanshahr Machelonia Maishan Margiana Mazun Media Mokran Paratan Parthia Patishkhwagar Persis Sakastan Susiana Turan