HISTORICAL NOTES:
Petra was capital of the Nabataean Kingdom (168 BC - 106 AD),
which controlled a large trade network. Such centers included Bosra,
Mada'in Saleh (aka Hegra) and
Shivta. Originally the people were nomads from the
Negev Desert. Important trade goods were
Frankincense and Myrrh.
Petra reached its peak under Aretas III (87-62 BC). His forces
captured Damascus in 85 BC. They later
lost to Roman legions under Marcus Aemilius Scaurus, who besieged Petra. Aretas negotiated a compromise and
became a client state. In 106 AD, Emperor Trajan
annexed Nabataean to the Roman Empire.