At a crossroads between Africa, Asia, and Europe, the South Arabian kingdoms were major commercial and cultural players in world history. Their art and architecture, and especially their irrigation system, featuring a gigantic dam high in the mountains, give witness to a fascinating civilization, the myth and historical dimensions of which have captured our collective imaginations. The author, who participated in several archaeological excavations in Southern Arabia, provides a concise history of the kingdoms from the tenth century B.C.E. to the seventh century C.E. European reviewers of the German edition praised especially his elaboration of the social structures of the kingdoms, their economy and trade, geography, languages, scripture, military, and religion.