Short answers, pulled from the story.
The Kingdom of Saba founded the city in the 1st century CE as a secondary capital while their primary seat remained at Marib. Ancient inscriptions refer to the settlement as San'a, a name derived from the Sabaic word mašna'a meaning fortress.
Sanaa ranks fastest-growing capital city globally at 7% annual rate compared to national average of 3.2%. Population growth soared from 1960s onward resulting from mass rural migration seeking employment and improved living standards.
Military leader Özdemir Pasha conquered Sanaa in 1547 allowing European captains from Aden and Mocha special trade privileges. The Ottoman Empire entered Yemen in 1538 under Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent before this conquest.
Houthi forces seized control of Sanaa on the 21st of September 2014 during ongoing insurgency. Another Battle of Sanaa broke out in late 2017 between Houthis and former President Saleh loyalists resulting in his death.
Sanaa's Old City contains more than 100 mosques 12 hammams baths and 6,500 houses recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986. Tower houses typically built from stone and fired brick reach up to eight stories high decorated with plaster openings featuring geometric patterns.