15. The Nabataeans - The Final Days Of Petra

In the deserts of Jordan, a city lies hidden for centuries in a valley of rose-red stone...

In this episode, we look at one of the most peculiar stories of civilizational survival to come down to us from the ancient world, the story of the Nabataeans. Find out how these once humble traders rose to become masters of the desert sands, and to defy empires. And discover what happened to finally bring down the empire of Nabataea.

Credits:

Voice actors:

Nick Denton
Jay Forrester
Shem Jacobs
Annie Kelly
Paul Casselle

Sound engineering by Alexey Sibikin

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[khalilalkhazaleh]

Am a Jordanian tour guide, I visited Petra a hundred times and every time I get amazed, and enjoy every things about it

[zacoolm]

I am from Jordan and I believe this is the best ever documentary about Petra!

[KaraLyn-zxkk]

You could do a nonstop 48 hour lecture and I would sit on the edge of my seat the entire time. You bring history to life and I have loved every one of your videos.

[Daddywaah]

I love the way this guy doesn't just tell history, he tells a story.

[HUSSOULMAN]

Towards the end, you asked to imagine living in Petra near its final days... BROTHER I imagined living, walking, and dying as I was right there the entire episode!!!! Fantastic work! Thank you

[christopherwalburn]

Few things move me mentally and emotionally like FoC. I Look forward to every new episode and still enjoy all the past ones as well. A masterclass in history presentation and storytelling!! Thank you Paul and the team, we are forever grateful!!

[arenzefischer]

You know it‘s Fall of Civilizations when a history podcast goes into details about the origin of sandstone. Love it.

[Digger]

I am an 80 year old Australian and seeing Petra was the most amazing thing I have ever seen !!!.
I wish I had waited until I saw Paul Coopers presentation, this was totally BRILLIANT!!!!.
Thanks Paul.

[thefisherking]

Ahhh, yes. Fall of Civ, where stage-setting invariably goes back to the Cambrian. Well, as they say, history is geography. I love the way you tie the advantages and disadvantages conveyed by the landscape into the rise and fall of each society.

[willackerman-guitarist]

As the founder and owner of Windham Hill Records, I had an opportunity to produce a piano album by the Jordanian musician, Zade Dirani. Zaid's father, Ziad, was the principal architect for the Jordanian royal family. Long story short, Princess Alia al Faisal, arranged to have us be the only people in Petra for an entire morning while we did filming for a promotional video. To be the ONLY people in the Siq and the city of Petra itself will remain as one of the most treasured memories of my life.

[manbehindthebeard]

I listen to these every night as I drift off to sleep. And this is one of my favorite episodes, due to the fact it seems to magically weave itself into my dreams even more than others. Like whirling sands that seems to create the imagery you have an uncanny way of describing.

[Bibi-J]

In my opinion you deserve some kind of reward for this fantastic documentary.
It's like you gave these peaceful and brave people a monument, in this way they Won't be forgotten.
I loved every second of this documentary.
A huge THANKS to you, Paul, and everybody who worked with you to make this.
It's truly wonderful.

[PopGoesTheology]

This is easily the most fascinating archaeological site that a traveler could hope to visit. If you go in winter, there are very few tourists, yet it's still sunny and pleasant.

[chopsddy]

It’s even better with the visual images. This is some of the best content on YouTube.

[plushcat]

I lived in Saudi Arabia and visited both Petra and Hegra (Meda'in Saleh) a number of tìmes, long beforè the tourists and fancy hotels/resorts appeared like a blight on the landscape...for me, both ancient cities and their surrounding landscapes are some of the most stunningly beautful places on earth...

[franklinderrano]

Every time I hear that intro piano, I'm overtaken by chills and want to cry in anticipation. Beautiful as ever.

[moosesnWoop]

ah man, these introductions always get me. They are like 8+ mins long, and it just grabs you and then the title screen comes in and you remember that this is a full production and you've only JUST begun the journey.

[ElizabethAyotte]

Time Stamps

Please feel free to add other important moments below if I've missed anything! Thank you Paul for such beautiful work!

0:00 Johann Ludwig Burckhardt
8:40 Introduction
10:28 Geology of Jordan
14:45 Early Evidence of the Nabateans (600 BC)
16:20 The Nomadic lifestyle
18:47 Book of Kings, King Solomon
19:21 Hieronymus of Cardia's Account (312 BC)
22:05 Frankincense and Myrrh
32:24 The City of Petra & Water
42:22 Petra as a Hub of Trade
44:49 Clash with Greece & Antigonus Monophthalmus (Athenius)
54:36 Demetrius’s Failed Siege
59:41 Sources on the Nabateans
1:02:26 Women in Nabatean Society
1:06:38 King Aretus and extent of the Kingdom (Petra recognized as capital 129 BC)
1:09:42 The Khazneh
1:12:34 Daily Life in Nabatea
1:15:40 Religion and Gatherings
1:18:47 Nabataean Inscriptions
1:24:49 Aelius Gallus’ Expedition and Syllaeus (26 BC)
1:34:45 Annexation by Rome
1:41:23 Decline of Petra’s Influence
1:45:27 The Earthquake of 363 AD
1:52:27 The Years Following
1:56:51 Poetry by Tarafa & Closing

[Automedon]

I don't recall an historical documentary that made me visualize a civilization like it were people living today - as this one does. Epic work and the very best that Youtube has to offer.

[lahma]

Every single one of these episodes is a hidden wealth of treasures quite unlike anything else available, free, paid, or otherwise. Thank you for all of the hard work you put into sharing this wonderful content with us!