Have you ever heard of the Nabataean civilization - one of the most mysterious civilizations in the Middle East? This civilization left behind many ancient buildings, and here are just a few of them:
1) The majestic Petra, carved right into the rock.
2) The ruins of the ancient city of Shivta.
3) The ruins of the ancient city of Avdat.
Archaeologists believe that this civilization existed in the Middle East for almost a millennium - from the 4th century BC to the 3rd century AD.
But very, very little is known about it - researchers still do not understand where the Nabateans came from here and where they disappeared. Scientists noticed an interesting thing - the representatives of this civilization expanded the boundaries of their state not through military conflicts, but exclusively through politics and trade.
The very first information about the Nabataeans was found in the works of Roman and Greek historians. According to their information, the Nabateans created a powerful empire that existed for almost a thousand years.
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There are many theories about their disappearance. According to one of them, in the past, the Nabateans could assimilate with the local Christian population and completely disappear as an independent state, leaving behind only the ruins of ancient cities.
But personally to me, this version seems very doubtful - why did such a powerful people begin to accept another faith and gradually leave their homes?
It seems to me that the Nabataean civilization could either be destroyed in a military conflict, or perish as a result of some huge natural disaster.
Information about the Nabataeans has been preserved even in ancient Chinese chronicles - in treatises on the Great Silk Road. Nevertheless, there are much more questions here than answers - who were these people, where did they come from, and where did they go?
According to one version, in the past, the Nabateans could have been one of the Arab tribes who came here from the territory of the southern Jordan.
Some researchers believe that in the past, the Nabateans could have been a nomadic people who traveled the hard way through the Arabian desert. Archaeologists assume that the main goods for trade and exchange they had were:
1) Incense.
2) Silk products.
3) Spices.
4) Precious metals.
Also, archaeologists have established that this civilization built many complex irrigation systems, turning a piece of lifeless desert into a blooming oasis. And for a long time they were the owners of the trade route connecting such civilizations as:
1) Greek.
2) Roman.
3) Arabic.
4) Assyrian.
5) Egyptian.
But if the Nabateans were originally really a nomadic people, then what made them adopt a sedentary lifestyle? Were simple nomads able to create such powerful cities and complex irrigation systems?
In Roman and Greek chronicles, information has been preserved that during the time of the Nabataeans, there were many flowers on their territory - they knew the art of irrigation so well.
Researchers find their writing very similar to Arabic. But they note that for some reason, closer to the end of their civilization, the Nabateans began to speak Greek.
Interestingly, this civilization did not leave behind any chronicles and historical works. Information about them can be found only from other peoples.
