Ancient kingdom, Middle East.
Occupying the area of the lower Euphrates River valley and the upper part of the Persian Gulf , it was ruled by the Lakhmids (3rd century AD602), who themselves were subordinate to the S 0101; s 0101; nian dynasty of Persia. Its chief town, also named Al- 1E24; 012B; rah, was a diplomatic, political, and military centre and an important station on the Persia-Arabia caravan route. Tradition holds that the Arabic script was developed there. Also the seat of a bishopric for Nestorian Christians, it promoted Christian monotheism in the Arabian Peninsula . Al- 1E24; 012B; rah began to decline after the S 0101; s 0101; nians dissolved the Arab state there early in the 7th century, and in 633 the town was taken by the Muslims.