In the 20th century Yemen was the first Arab state to gain its independence. It has the only permanent elected parliament in the Arab world. Its press is among the freest in the region. Yemeni women were the first women in the Arabian peninsula to have the right to vote. This political progress is in stark contrast to the marginal existence still facing millions of Yemenis. Isolated by the international community for refusing to oppose Iraq during the Gulf War, Yemen continues to suffer the impact of this decision. Today more than 70 per cent of Yemenis are still without adequate health services and fewer than half of rural households have access to potable drinking water. This book traces Yemen’s development from ancient times to the present and analyses the social, economic and environmental challenges facing the country.