The Nabataean Civilization
The Nabataeans, the Arab Levantine People
The earliest mention of the Nabataeans dates back to 312 BC, where they are referred to as nomads living in tents and trading in perfumes, aromatic herbs, and spices from southern Arabia. The Nabataeans are an Arab Levantine people, among the peoples of the Levant.
1 - After the Nabataeans became civilized, the Arab Nabataeans became one of the most distinguished peoples in the history of civilization.
The Arab Nabataeans had a refined civilization and were among the most skilled nations in art, construction, and architecture. They are among the most distinguished peoples known to history and were highly talented, having defeated great kingdoms in their era and history.
[ Isaac H. Godlove , The Earliest Peoples and their Colors p211 ]
[ The Nabataean settlement in Central and Northern Jordan , von Moath Muhammad Hamlan Al-Fuqaha , Bochum 2018 p33 ]
2 - The Nabataeans had a strong influence on their neighbors.
The architecture known as Herodian Arab Architecture
Herodian Architecture
(named after Herod, the king of Judea of Arab Edomite origins) was derived from three architectural styles: Hellenistic, Roman, and Nabataean Arab.
The influence of Nabataean art is evident in the column capitals used in the Masada fortress.
[ EHUD NETZER , The Architecture of Herod, the Great Builder p337 ]
3 - The Nabataean Arab kingdom was renowned for justice, as the historian Strabo noted that the capital of the Nabataean kingdom, Petra, enjoyed good governance. Visitors described its government with admiration, and foreigners residing there were allowed to file lawsuits. However, when disputes arose among the Nabataeans themselves, they did not resort to the judiciary but instead used other peaceful methods.
[ Strabo 16.4.21 ]
4 - And Damascus lived one of its finest days under the rule of the Nabataeans
Among the four Arab entities that surrounded Damascus, the Arab Nabataeans in particular had the greatest influence on the city of Damascus during that period. This was an extension of their control over Damascus in the past, which occurred after the Nabataeans defeated the Seleucid Empire in 87 BCE.
At that time, the people of the city welcomed King Aretas III, seeking his protection, and the Damascenes lived in peace.
[ DAMASCUS A History , ROSS BURNS p60 , p117 ( 2 Edition ) ]
5 - And the Arab Nabataean people enjoyed a thriving economy, high literacy, and remarkable artistic creativity
[ JOSEPH PATRICH THE FORMATION OF NABATEAN ART p163 ]
6 - And the Nabataeans were masters of irrigation and hydraulic engineering, and the Romans had adopted their irrigation system
[ BYZANTIUM AND THE ARABS IN THE SIXTH CENTURY , VOL 2 | PART I , IRFAN SHAHÎD pp16 - 19 ]
The Nabataean Arabs achieved glorious victories over the Greeks
where the Nabataeans defeated the Greeks in 3 separate battles and annihilated their forces completely, leaving only a few dozen who fled on their horses across the desert
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They defeated the forces of Athenarius and destroyed his entire army
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Then Antigonus sent a third force led by Polerstes to seize the Nabataean stronghold, but they failed as well
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Then Antigonus sent a third force to completely defeat the Nabataeans, but the Greeks were defeated at that time by Hieronymus
The leaders of these armies were the generals of Alexander the Great, who subdued all the kingdoms of the ancient world from Italy to China and established a Hellenistic empire spanning 3 continents.
[ Contextualizing the Nabataeans p6-7 , py Jeffry Eli Pearson ]
The Nabataean Arabs also triumphed in the Battle of Qana, which took place in 87 or 84 BC against the Seleucids, where King Obodas I inflicted a humiliating defeat on the Seleucid king Antiochus XII, and King Obodas I killed the Seleucid king Antiochus.
[ ROMAN ARABIA , G. W. BOWERSOCK P24 ]
