The Amazing History of the Incense Route

If you enjoy the history of all things aromatic, theweary travellers. Many of these structures are still in
incense route through the Middle East is sure toplace today and are worthwhile to look at as well as
tempt you with it's stories of legendary caravansstudy for their historical value.
transporting incense, myrrh, gold and nearlyAs you can well imagine life along the trade route,
everything of any value from Yemen to the Gazaespecially if you were part of a caravan carrying
port in Israel.priceless valuables, was extremely dangerous on a
History of the Incense Routeday-to-day basis. There was the constant chance of
The incense route, as it was nearly 2000 years ago,ambush and robbery, not to mention the harsh
was a series of different routes extending fromenvironment of the desert. Anyone travelling with a
Egypt, Northeast Africa, India, the Mediterranean andcaravan taking this route had to be alert at all times
the Middle East. The predominant traffic coursedand have the ability to survive long days in desert
through these areas and provided a connectionheat and even longer freezing nights. However, the
between the spice and silk trade of India, Africanmonetary gain was well worth these dangers and the
gold and woods, along with myrrh and frankincensedemands it put upon those who travelled with these
of the Middle East. Most of which eventually sailedcaravans. To be sure, it was literally, a hard road to
from the port at Gaza toward the markets of thetravel.
Roman Empire.The Incense Route Today
During its busiest period, from roughly the 3rdToday, many of the landmarks along the incense
century BCE until the 2nd century CE, the routeroad have vanished. There are, however, a few
flourished and was the hub of nearly all trade relatedexamples of the opulence that once gained its wealth
to incense and spice over a more than 2400 km spanfrom the goods that were traded along it. These
of the Middle East, the northern coast of Africa andruins feature fortresses, churches, merchant
India.storefronts, bathhouses and guard towers, as well as
Four cities, Avdat, Haluza, Mamshit and Shivta,man other interesting sites. Many of these areas are
located in the Negev Desert, all played importantaccessible by jeep or bus and can still be toured.
roles in the development of the MediterraneanToday, we can find the incense and most of the
terminus of the incense route. Because of the wealthexotic items that we've come to love at the local
derived from the trade and sale of goods along thisretail store or international specialty store. It's hard to
trade route, these four cities flourished and wereimagine those items travelling through dangerous
much more technologically advanced than most duringkingdoms or caravans being plagued by ominous
that time period.thieves in antiquity. But even then, our distant
These areas featured the most advanced irrigationancestors knew what we know today: There are
systems, fortresses and luxurious roadside inns forsome things in life that are worth the risk.