The economic situation of Yemen and Hijaz provinces in the 16th century (Comparative study)

The main aim of this study is to reveal the historical information we have obtained by examining the economic conditions of Hicaz and Yemen provinces in the 16th century using comparative-historical methodology. Economic studies usually provide us with information in many different fields compared to other historical studies. In general, the libraries of the Arab countries in general and Yemen in specific are in a crucial need for doing researches and academic studies on the situation of the Arab provinces under Ottoman rule in the 16th century. Yemen and Hijaz, the neighbouring of each other in Hijaz peninsula have been always important both religiously and strategically throughout history. In the first half of the 16th century, the two provinces of this geographical region ,which joined the Ottoman lands, continued their preeminence in the Ottoman period as well. In our research, we have done our best to benefit from Turkish resources as well as Arabic ones. However, in the mentioned period, the Turkish resources shedding light on the dimensions of the Economic situation in Yemen and Hicaz are very few in number. The lack of information about Economic situations in Yemen and Hicaz provinces led us to use different scientific methods. In our study of related resources, we benefited carefully from some information provided by the sources of the 17th and 18th centuries in subjects that might remain stable enough as not to change much in the 16th century. The provinces of Hicaz and Yemen in the west and south of the Arabian peninsula became two important provinces for the 16th century Ottoman Empire; the former as a sacred center and the latter as a strategic center. Key words: Yemen, Hicaz, 16th century, Economic situation.