Steven C. Caton, PhD, is professor of contemporary Arab studies in the Department of Anthropology at Harvard University, Cambridge, MA. Caton holds a doctorate in anthropology and linguistics from the University of Chicago.

• Introduction,1 Geography,Charles SchmitzThe Landy,Geology and Topography,Climate,Temperature,Moisture,Ecological Adaptations,Highland and Lowland Agriculture,Crops and Their Geography,Resources,Groundwater,Groundwater and Qat,National Food Security,Emigration,Immigration,Ethnic Groups,Tribes,Other Groups,Three Facets of Yemen's Population: Size, Dynamics, and Urban–Rural Divide,What Is Yemen?,Who Are Yemenis?,2 History,Steven C. CatonChronology,Prehistoric,Ancient,Medieval Period,Modern Period,Prehistory,The Ancient Kingdoms,The Sabaeans,The Himyarites,The Coming of Islam,The Medieval Kingdoms,The Ziyadid Dynasty (820–1018 ce),The Sulayhid Dynasty (1047–1138 ce),The Rasulid Dynasty (1228–1454),The Tahirid Dynasty (1455–1547),The Zaydi Imamate (911–1962),The Modern Period,The British Protectorate in Aden, the Second Ottoman Occupation of Yemen, and the Rise of the Hamid al-Din Imams,The Yemeni Civil War (1962–1970) and British Withdrawal from Aden (1967),YAR and PDRY (1970–1990),Development and Growth in the YAR (1980–1990): Agriculture, Oil, and Gas,Unification (1990),Terrorist Attacks,3 Politics and Government,Stacey Philbrick Yadav and Ali Saif HassanPolitical Legacies from Yemen's History,Two States, Two Regimes: North and South Yemen,Road to Unification,The Republic of Yemen,The Unity Constitution,Political Parties and Political Pluralism,The Executive Branch,The Legislative Branch,The Judicial Branch,Local Government and the Devolution of Authority,Civil–Military Relations,Yemen's Foreign Policy,State–Society Relations,Civil Society and Associational Life,Religion and Politics,The Roles of Women in Politics,Conclusion,4 The Economy,Charles SchmitzYemen's Economy in Historical Perspective,The Political Economy of Agriculture,Rural Markets,Modern Urban Markets,Republican Government and Economic Transformation,Socialist Government and Economic Transformation,United Yemen (Republic of Yemen) and Its Economic Challenges,Contemporary Issues in the Yemeni Economy,Corruption, Politics, and the Economy,Economically Exploitable Natural Resources,Oil and Gas,Mining,Port of Aden,Fishing,Industry,Agriculture,Arable Land Scarcity,Food Security,Crops,Manufacturing,Labor,Sectoral Distribution,Emigration,Unions,Trade and Finance,Trade Patterns,Finance,Measuring Yemen's Poverty and Placing It in Context,5 Society,Religion and Thought,Steven C. CatonShafi'i (Sunni) Islam,Zaydi Islam,Ismaili Islam,Sufism,Yemenite Jewry,Asher OrkabyElaborate Myths of Origin,Early History as Merchants of the Indian Ocean Trade,Transition from Trade to Artisanry,Religious and Social Life,A Messianic Community,The Jewish Artisan and the Muslim Farmer,Exodus of Yemenite Jewry and Operation Magic Carpet,Social Groups and Ethnicity,Steven C. CatonThe Tribes,What Is a Tribe?,Who Is a Tribesman?,Tribal Confederations,Tribal Dispute Mediation,The Role and Power of Tribal Sheikhs,The Saadah,The Judges (Qudhaa'),Servant Groups,Khaddaam,Akhdam,Marriage, Family Life, and Women,Steven C. CatonMarriage,The Family Household,The House,The Neighborhood,Weddings,Religious Festivals or 'Ids,Concepts of Gender and Sexuality,Honor and Sexual Modesty,The Female in the Family,Homosociality,Changes Affecting Women since the 1960s,Education,Steven C. CatonTraditional Education in Yemen,Modern Education,Problems and Challenges Facing Modern Education,Possibilities and Limits of Educational Reform,6 Culture,Arabic Language,Steven C. CatonClassical Arabic, Modern Standardized, Arabic, and Dialect Arabic,South Arabic,The Dialect of Yemeni Arabic,Etiquette,Steven C. CatonGreetings,Conversation,Hospitality toward the Stranger and Guest,Meals,The Qat Chew,Gift Giving,Bargaining,Friendship and Hand-Holding in Public,Challenging Someone in Public,Literature,Classical Poetry and Prose: From Ancient Times until the Present,Mohammed SharafuddinClassical Poetry,First Period: 500–750 ce,Second Period: 751–1837 ce,Third Period: 1838 until the Present,Humayni Dialect Poetry,Steven C. CatonTribal Oral Poetry,Steven C. CatonPoetry,Tribal Poetry in the 2011 Yemeni "Arab Spring,"Non-Arabic Poetry,Steven C. CatonYemeni Fiction and Theater,Katherine HennesseyYemeni Fiction,Theater in Yemen,Dance,Steven C. CatonFood,Steven C. CatonYemeni Architecture,Steven C. CatonPopular Culture,Steven C. Caton7 Contemporary Issues,Political Conflicts,Stacey Philbrick YadavThe Houthi Conflict (2004–Present),The Southern Movement (2007–Present),The Rise of AQAP (2009–Present),The "Change Revolution" (2011–Present),Stacey Philbrick YadavYemenis in Guantanamo Bay,Charles SchmitzWater Crisis,Steven C. CatonHistory of Sustainable Water Use in Yemen,The Impacts,New or Additional Water Sources?,Internal Migration?,Rural–Urban Transfers,Water Markets,Shifting Crop Production,National Administrative Reform,National Water Law,Reeducating Yemen's Civil Engineers,Glossary,Facts and Figures,Major Yemen Holidays,Country-Related Organizations,Annotated Bibliography,About the Editor and Contributors,Thematic Index,Subject Index,

A great reference for those with more than a tourist interest in Yemen or for undergraduate-level students looking for a general overview on the country.