Historians and anthropologists believe the Incense Road of Antiquity flourished between the 3rd century BCE and began to decline after the 2nd century CE. In general, the incense trade route stretched from the Mediterranean to Egypt, Arabia and on to India. Before the Greco-Romans started bypassing Incense Road, it was the main channel for trading goods of high value such as Indian spices, ebony and silk. Even rare woods from East Africa were carried along this route, as well as feathers and gold.
According to historian Himanshu Ray, South Arabia and the Horn of Africa were the chief sources of incense during the heyday of the Incense Route of Antiquity. Both texts and ancient frescos show evidence of traders bringing incense to the Nile around 1500 BCE. As the trade route evolved, new substances for ritual incense use were discovered. For example Yemen was already a prominent city for trade, but the frankincense and myrrh trees growing there were highly valued. Traders from all over Arabia sought the trees but it was the rulers of Yemen that valued them the most. Perhaps because of the commerce the trees brought, or maybe for their religious rituals. Either way the frankincense and myrrh trees kept the Red Sea portion of the Incense Road busy.
One of the most important points along the land route of the Incense Road was Gerrha, now identified as Uqair in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia on the Red Sea. As an aside, the high salt content of the Red Sea meant there were no traditional building materials available. So residents built their homes using large blocks of salt. If repairs were needed, salt water was the 'glue'. In any case, Gerrha was well placed as a trading point for commodities, particularly aromatic goods from India. The location opened the door to the Mediterranean and controlled everything that flowed into Babylon during the first century BCE.
Inevitably the world powers of the era fought over control of the Incense Road of Antiquity. Nations were invaded, conquered or destroyed. Trade suffered during the battles between opposing sides and slowly a middleman capable of bypassing the warring armies began to emerge. The Nabateans (a people from what is now Jordan and northern Arabia) and the Roman Empire fought like cats and dogs while the South Arabs slipped in between them and demanded exorbitant fees for safe transport of cargos to the other side. However it was not long before a direct sea route across the Erythraen Sea (Arabian Sea) began being used to avoid the greed of the middlemen.
The act of bypassing the land portion of the Incense Road meant the Grecian Empire was now trading directly with India; the same was true for Rome and Egypt. An important contributor to the decline in Arabian influence on the Incense Road was the fall of the Sabaen Kingdom in Southwestern Arabia, leaving a large hole in commerce. Of course, no nation hesitated in filling that void, thus imports of cinnamon and pepper between India and Egypt increased dramatically.
Like any industrial boom, the incense trade experienced a historical period of 'bust' in the 3rd century CE. Every major nation or kingdom was experiencing significant political or economic trials. According to historian Gary Keith, commercial declines brought the Incense Road of Antiquity to a standstill. Yemen had relied very heavily on funds from the sale of their frankincense and myrrh trees, so after the halt of the Incense Road they turned to exporting coffee. It wasn't until the 6th century CE that a four-pronged leadership group emerged to manage the trade route. Now aromatics seemed to reach as far as Spain where the Archbishop of Spain began to document their names and religious use.
In November of 2000 CE, UNESCO declared the Frankincense Trail in Oman as an official World Heritage Site. The citation outlined by the World Heritage Committee states that the trees, oasis and ports of the region are vivid illustrations of the trade that flourished in the ancient world. In 2005 four Nabatean towns were added to the World Heritage list as they exhibit sophisticated architecture, engineering and construction from an ancient time and during an important era of trade history. Knowing the incense we use in our religious houses and homes has such a long and dramatic history makes the aroma of each variety seem so much more significant. One can almost see the primitive caravans traversing the Arabian desserts loaded down with incense, spices and gold.
According to historian Himanshu Ray, South Arabia and the Horn of Africa were the chief sources of incense during the heyday of the Incense Route of Antiquity. Both texts and ancient frescos show evidence of traders bringing incense to the Nile around 1500 BCE. As the trade route evolved, new substances for ritual incense use were discovered. For example Yemen was already a prominent city for trade, but the frankincense and myrrh trees growing there were highly valued. Traders from all over Arabia sought the trees but it was the rulers of Yemen that valued them the most. Perhaps because of the commerce the trees brought, or maybe for their religious rituals. Either way the frankincense and myrrh trees kept the Red Sea portion of the Incense Road busy.
One of the most important points along the land route of the Incense Road was Gerrha, now identified as Uqair in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia on the Red Sea. As an aside, the high salt content of the Red Sea meant there were no traditional building materials available. So residents built their homes using large blocks of salt. If repairs were needed, salt water was the 'glue'. In any case, Gerrha was well placed as a trading point for commodities, particularly aromatic goods from India. The location opened the door to the Mediterranean and controlled everything that flowed into Babylon during the first century BCE.
Inevitably the world powers of the era fought over control of the Incense Road of Antiquity. Nations were invaded, conquered or destroyed. Trade suffered during the battles between opposing sides and slowly a middleman capable of bypassing the warring armies began to emerge. The Nabateans (a people from what is now Jordan and northern Arabia) and the Roman Empire fought like cats and dogs while the South Arabs slipped in between them and demanded exorbitant fees for safe transport of cargos to the other side. However it was not long before a direct sea route across the Erythraen Sea (Arabian Sea) began being used to avoid the greed of the middlemen.
The act of bypassing the land portion of the Incense Road meant the Grecian Empire was now trading directly with India; the same was true for Rome and Egypt. An important contributor to the decline in Arabian influence on the Incense Road was the fall of the Sabaen Kingdom in Southwestern Arabia, leaving a large hole in commerce. Of course, no nation hesitated in filling that void, thus imports of cinnamon and pepper between India and Egypt increased dramatically.
Like any industrial boom, the incense trade experienced a historical period of 'bust' in the 3rd century CE. Every major nation or kingdom was experiencing significant political or economic trials. According to historian Gary Keith, commercial declines brought the Incense Road of Antiquity to a standstill. Yemen had relied very heavily on funds from the sale of their frankincense and myrrh trees, so after the halt of the Incense Road they turned to exporting coffee. It wasn't until the 6th century CE that a four-pronged leadership group emerged to manage the trade route. Now aromatics seemed to reach as far as Spain where the Archbishop of Spain began to document their names and religious use.
In November of 2000 CE, UNESCO declared the Frankincense Trail in Oman as an official World Heritage Site. The citation outlined by the World Heritage Committee states that the trees, oasis and ports of the region are vivid illustrations of the trade that flourished in the ancient world. In 2005 four Nabatean towns were added to the World Heritage list as they exhibit sophisticated architecture, engineering and construction from an ancient time and during an important era of trade history. Knowing the incense we use in our religious houses and homes has such a long and dramatic history makes the aroma of each variety seem so much more significant. One can almost see the primitive caravans traversing the Arabian desserts loaded down with incense, spices and gold.
About the Author:
Itamar David is a representative of Fast Aroma. FastAroma.com, supplying the finest quality Aromatic incense to meditators, Yoga practitioners and discerning buyers looking to create peaceful, calming environments in the home and office. For more information about k2 incense, visit us online!
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