Incense Road
The Incense Road was an ancient network of land and sea routes trading routes that linked Arabia to the Mediterranean world, driven by the strong demand for frankincense from Oman.[1] The land route flourished between the 3rd century BCE and 2nd century CE,[2] being later superseded by transport through the Red Sea.[1] The al-Ula Valley was long considered a mandatory stop along the route, due to its geographic position, availability of water and food produced at the local oasis.[3][1]
During the first millennium BCE, both Dadanite and Lihyanite kingdoms at the valley took advantage of the region's placement along the Incense Road to develop their civilizations, drawing cultural inspiration from their trade partners in the Levant, Egypt, Mesopotamia,[4] and Greece.[5] After the Nabataean Kingdom took over the region and established their regional authority at Hegra by the middle of the 1st century BCE,[4] it became an essential stop on the route,[6] allowing the Nabataeans to make a fortune from caravan trade.[1]
Though the road receives its name from frankincense, it was not the only good traded, and other items hailing from locations much further than Arabia,[1] such as India and the Horn of Africa also found purchase by the caravans, with spices, precious stones, pearls, silk, gold and even slaves being traded bought and sold.[2]
Appearances[edit | edit source]
- Assassin's Creed: Mirage – Valley of Memory (first appearance)
- Echoes of History – Valley of Memory
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Assassin's Creed: Mirage – Valley of Memory – Database: Incense Road
- ↑ 2.0 2.1
Incense trade route on Wikipedia
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Mirage – Valley of Memory – Database: Life of a Merchant
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Assassin's Creed: Mirage – Valley of Memory – Database: Dadanite/Lihyanite & Nabataean Civilizations
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Mirage – Valley of Memory – Database: Sanctuary Ruins
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Mirage – Valley of Memory – Database: Hegra