HISTORY

The Nabataeans, on of the most gifted people in history, were ancient Arab tribes who originally came from the Arabian Peninsula, more that 220 years ago, and settled in southern Jordan. Before arriving in southern Jordan, they had lived for a considerable time in north-western Arabia, a strategic area that lay on the ancient Arabian trade routes linking China and India to the Mediterranean coastal cities and their ports. While in north-western Arabia, the Nabataeans achieved a certain degree of sedentarization and came under the influence of major foreign cultures due to the fact that they were engaged in the caravaneering business. This activity was heightened by the time they extended their area of influence to southern Jordan and Hauran. They became the undisputed masters of the region's trade routes, levying tolls, protecting caravans laden with Arabian frankincense and myrrh, Indian spices and silks, African ivory and animal hides.

Profits from the caravanning business enabled them to establish and organize a powerful kingdom that stretched to Damascus and included parts of the Sinai and Negev deserts, effectively ruling the greater part of Arabia. This was no easy task when we consider that the whole region was under the domination of the rival Greek factions, the Hasmonaeans and later the Romans. They fought vicious wars or resorted to cunning diplomacy to preserve their independence and civilization, but the all too powerful Roman Empire was not willing to tolerate a strong native kingdom, and the inevitable had to happen, in 106 AD, as the Nabataean kingdom was annexed to the Roman Empire. But even though, Petra and the Nabataean civilization managed to flourish and prosper for many more years, until the sources of its riches decreased due to such factors as the shift in trade routes and lesser demand for frankincense as Christianity replaced pagan religions. Eventually, the glorious Nabataean achievements and Petra fell to ruins.

The Nabataeans were clever and practical people, they never believed in national exclusiveness, were open to outside cultural influences, absorbed them and added to them their own native touch so that the final outcome of this interaction was a wonderful cultural melting pot. A short walk down Petra attests to this. Look at any carved monument and you will discern classical (Graeco-Roman), Egyptian, Mesopotamian and local styles, all fused into one unified artwork. Petra reeks of foreign and local cultural influences. The city was throbbing with life, crisscrossed by paved roads, agricultural terraces, water harvesting systems, artwork and temples, not to mention theatres. After reaching its historical peak though, Petra was gradually abandoned and after the 14 th century it was completely lost to the West, until a Swiss traveler named Johann Ludwig Burckhardt rediscovered it in 1812.

Four hours drive from Amman and you are at the fate of Petra; to explore it would be an unforgettable experience. Petra is a huge archaeological site and most tourists simply do not have the time to cover it. Three days are needed for honest exploratory coverage.