Ziyad in Arabic means growth, which is fitting for the Ziyadid Dynasty’s enduring influence over modern-day Yemen and throughout the Islamic world for over 1,000 years. Established by Muhammad ibn Ziyad in 820, who was sent to settle a quarrel for the Abbasids but instead created his own empire and named the capital ‘Zabid’, after himself. Zabid grew rich in culture, education, and commerce. Nicknamed the “Baghdad of Yemen,” people traveled well-maintained roads and enjoyed newly erected mosques that connected from Mecca to Aden. The Ziyadid demise eventually came from a revolt of those the empire had enslaved. Thank you to Tanner Willis for this powerful article.