PETRA

Location

Southern Jordan (Situated between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea ).

Historic Importance

Center of an Arab kingdom during Hellenistic and Roman times. It was originally known to its inhabitants as Raqmu.

Conquered by the Romans in 106 AD and turned into the Roman province of Arabia.

Continued to grow during the second and third centuries; lost to Islam in the 7th century, then taken by different leaders in the 12th century. Rediscovered by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt in 1812.

Home to approximately 800 tombs, including the famous "Royal Tombs" and 'The Treasury'.

Establishment

Established in 312 BC (around 2000 years ago).  It is one of the world's richest and largest archaeological sites set in a dominating red sandstone landscape. 

Capital of

Nabateans, an Arab tribe referred to in the Bible.

Trade Center

Prosperous center of the spice trade involving China, Egypt, Greece, and India under Nabataean rule

Geography

Built on a terrace with the Wadi Musa (Valley of Moses) running east to west, enclosed by sandstone cliffs in shades of red, purple, and pale yellow.

Also called

Petra is also called the "Rose City" because of the colour of the sandstone from which it is carved.

UNESCO Status

The city is one of the New 7 Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site declared in 1985. UNESCO has described Petra as "one of the most precious cultural properties of man's cultural heritage".

UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)

• It is a specialized agency of the United Nations aimed at promoting global peace and security through international cooperation in education, the arts, sciences, and culture.
• It was founded in 1945 and is headquartered in Paris, France.
• The organization has 194 member states, 12 associate members, and collaborates with various partners in the non-governmental, intergovernmental, and private sectors.
• UNESCO established the World Heritage Committee in 1976 and began listing World Heritage Sites in 1978 to protect cultural and natural landmarks of global significance.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.The city was founded over 2000 years ago along the ancient trade routes between Arabia, Egypt, and the Mediterranean Sea. It was originally known to its inhabitants as Raqmu. The city is famous for its rock-cut architecture and water conduit systems and is also called the "Rose City" because of the colour of the sandstone from which it is carved. The city is one of the New 7 Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The passage describes the historical and architectural significance of which among the following cities?

(a) Machu Picchu

(b) Angkor Wat

(c) Petra

(d) Chichen Itza

Answer: c

Explanation:

Petra is a historic and archaeological city in southern Jordan. Famous for its rock-cut architecture and water conduit systems, Petra is also called the "Rose City" because of the colour of the sandstone from which it is carved.

The area around Petra has been inhabited from as early as 7000 BC and was settled by the Nabataeans, a nomadic Arab people, in the 4th century BC. Petra would later become the capital city of the Nabataean Kingdom in the second century BC. 

The Nabataeans invested in Petra's proximity to the incense trade routes by establishing it as a major regional trading hub, which gained them considerable revenue. Unlike their enemies, the Nabataeans were accustomed to living in the barren deserts and thus were able to defend their kingdom. They were particularly skillful in agriculture, stone carving, and rainwater harvesting.