Petra’s Hidden History | The Nabataeans,s Trade & Rock Cut City

Petra, Jordan is one of the most remarkable archaeological cities of the ancient world. Known for its spectacular rock-cut architecture and often called the “Rose City,” Petra was the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom and an important center of ancient trade. In this documentary, we explore the complete history and geography of Petra, Jordan. We look at where Petra is located, why the Nabataeans chose this difficult mountainous landscape, how the city became wealthy through caravan trade, and how its advanced water-management system allowed a major settlement to flourish in an arid environment. We also explore the famous Siq, the Treasury, the Royal Tombs, the Colonnaded Street and other important archaeological remains. Petra developed as a major crossroads connecting Arabia with Egypt and the eastern Mediterranean. The Nabataeans became important traders, dealing in goods such as incense, spices and other valuable commodities. Petra later became part of the Roman Empire in AD 106 and continued to develop under Roman and Byzantine rule. The city eventually declined as trade routes changed and suffered major damage from an earthquake in AD 363. Over the centuries, Petra gradually lost its importance before becoming known again to the wider world. Petra was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985. This documentary focuses on the history, geography, archaeology, architecture and ancient civilization of Petra, Jordan. Topics covered: Petra Jordan Petra history Petra geography Nabataean Kingdom Nabataeans Ancient Jordan Lost City of Petra Rose City Petra Petra archaeological site Petra Treasury Siq of Petra Ancient trade routes Roman Petra Nabataean civilization Ancient Middle East history Jordan history Petra documentary Sources: UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Jordan Tourism Board, Jordanian Department of Antiquities, Metropolitan Museum of Art and other archaeological and historical references.