The People?s Democratic Republic of Yemen, (formerly the People?s Republic of Southern Yemen) was located on the southern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It had an area of 128,560 sq. mi. (332,968 sq. km.). Capital: Aden. It consisted of the port city of Aden, 17 states of former South Arabian Federation, 3 small sheikhdoms, 3 large sultanates, Quaiti, Kathiri, and Mahri, which made up the Eastern Aden Protectorate, and Socortra, the largest island in the Arabian Sea. The port of Aden is the area?s most valuable natural resource. Cotton, fish, coffee, and hides are exported. ,Between 1200 BC and the 6th century AD, what is now the People?s Democratic Republic of Yemen was part of the Minaean kingdom. It subsequent years it was controlled by Persians, Egyptians, and Turks. Aden, one of the cities mentioned in the Bible, had been a port for trade between the East and West for 2,000 years. British rule began in 1839 when the British East India Co. seized control to put an end to the piracy threatening trade with India. To protect their foothold in Aden, the British found it necessary to extend their control into the area known historically as the Hadramaut, and to sign protection treaties with the sheikhs of the hinterland. Eventually, 15 of 16 Western Protectorate states, the Wahidi state of Eastern Protectorate, and Aden Colony joined to form the Federation of South Arabia. In 1959, Britain agreed to prepare South Arabia for full independence, which was achieved on November 30, 1967, at which time South Arabia, including Aden, changed its name to the People?s Republic of Southern Yemen. On December 1, 1970, following the overthrowing of the new government by the National Liberation Front, Southern Yemen changed its name to the People?s Republic of Yemen. On May 22, 1990 the People?s Democratic Republic merged with the Yemen Arab Republic into a unified Republic of Yemen. The YDR currency ceased to circulate on June 11, 1996.,, Monetary System:,,, ,1 Dinar = 1000 Fils,,