Part 3/11:
The Emerging Influence of Trade
Circa 500 BCE, the Nabataeans mastered desert trade, particularly of frankincense, controlling routes that linked Yemen to northern settlements. Their capital, Petra, became a bastion of wealth, showcasing the profitability of trade across the Arabian Desert. Excavations reveal their architectural sophistication even as their worship activities, largely a mystery, hinted at a rich cultural tapestry intertwined with the local geography.