world ‘We think ofthe petroleum industry as recent phenomenon, and certainly more el is ‘used now than ever was inthe past. Bul what many people don’t knovr is that there were ‘genuine oil industries in the ancient Middle East that employed many people end made important products. They also greatly impacted interational trade and polis. 1 people known asthe Nebstacans were already engaged inthe ‘petroleum business when, in 312 BC, a Greok army Ted by @ general called Hieronymus ‘crossed the Syrian desert into presen-day Jordan and headed toward the southern tip of the Dead Sea, As the troops reached ther destination, Hieronymus couldnt believe his eyes! He saw scores of Arabi-speaking tribesmen camped on the shore, wth their pack- ‘camels and reed rafts. All were Waiting forthe shawer—Arabic for “ball"—to appear in the middle ofthe waters, ‘The "bulls" Hieronymus discovered, were ceberglike mounds of bitumen—ot naturally occuring asphal—that floated up from the depths of the water. Everytime a ‘new "bull ose into sight, «swarm of axe-wielding seamen leapt ono the rats and ‘began a frantic race toward the mound. When they arrived atthe “bull” they jumped on i eut off pcces and pat them on the raft. Hack on land, they loaded the bitumen onto ‘camels. The destination was Alexandtia, a major seapor in Fey. icronyznus's mission was to expel the Arabs and seize the bitumen for Antigonus I, king of Macedonia, ‘But Hieronymus's talent for keeping good notes of ‘what he saw proved beter than his skills asa general His army was defeated and he ad to foe for his its ‘hough Diodorus's writings that we know about carly Nabataeaa ie ‘Until the Grecks made their unwelcome appearance fon Nabatacan shores, almost nothing was known abou these oilmen ofthe Dead Sea, We naw know ‘hat their home base was the present-day Hijaz region of northwestern Saud Arabia At one time, the \abataeans had "one ofthe greatest kingdoms inthe ancient Middle Eas,” acording to G, W. Bowersock, fan expert on those deset-dwelling people, Part ofthe [Nabataeans’ fabulous wealth eame from thei ole as sole exporters of Dead Sea bitumen to Egypt. . seadhno nanan’! Between 323 and 285 BC, the Nabatacans found wes Selengtetaete”” themselves al the center ofa biter strgle between anaes Sy Poolemy If Egypt and Antgonus I, who held part of present-day Turkey and all of Syria and Lebanon,Both had been generals inthe army of Alexander the Great, but after his death each sought to make himself ruler of an empire including al of the Middle Fast Antigonus moved against Ptolemy in 312 BC. He sent an army headed by an officer named Athenacus to subdue the “barbarians,” asthe Grecks called the Nabatacans, and impose an economic blockade on Egypt's eastem flank. This blockade would stop the trade of bitumen end, Antgonus figured, stir up the powerful priesthood against his rival —for bitumen was eitical in the mummitieation process in Eaypt, where it was believed that the body needed tobe preserved to ensure an afterlife fr the seul, But Antigonus’s scheme failed. Athenacus had eared thatthe Nabataean men were ‘gathering for their annual festival, leaving all thet possessions and their old people, ‘women and children for safekeeping ata certain place referred to a8 "The Rock.” Described as exceptionally strong and high, and unprotected by a wall, it sounds very like hill within the city of Peta, whic later became the eepital ofthe Nebataeaa, kingdom, Athenacus timed his rid to coineide with the Festival, Reaching the rocket nightfall, he ‘surprised the Arabs and killed or imprisoned meny ofthem. He then made a athe darkness with 700 camels and a booty tht included much frankincense and myrch and about 500 talents (round S1 million) of silver twas this booty that led his downfall, ‘With his troops tre, hot and short of water, Athenaeus made the mistake of selling up ‘samp too soon, ‘The Nabatacan mea lost no time eathering their forces. They attacked the Greek camp with vengeance, completely destroying Ahenaeus's infantry. Then they sent an angry letter to Antigonus, accusing Athenacus of aggression and demanding ‘assurances that the Greeks Would not alack again. Antigonus denied responsibility for the incident, saying that Athenacus had acted against orders. This was no ‘consolation to the Nabatacans and they placed watchmen on hilltops to wam of any new itrusion, Shortly here, Astgonus ordre his son Demetris to atack the Nabatacans. He {dso but he Nobtacan alert system worked and his troop had to reveat. The next ay, a8 Demteus was preparing © sore the ity one again, the Nabtacan Err tis rrr, wining ne, nour a fo hi, C1dETS Sent im a message expressing both ‘ra slong tf to bt "the peaceful desires and the steely resolve JOD Hie santas calese”” gre Bedouin Arabs “King Demesrius, with what desire or under what compulsion do you war against us who live in the desert, ina land that has neither water nor grain nor ‘wine nor any other thing whatever that pertains tothe necessities of Wfe among you? For we since we are in no way wiling tobe slaves, have taken refuge ina land that lacks al the things that are valued among ‘other peoples, and have chosen to live a ie in the desert... harming you not at al. We therefore beg both you and your father todo us no inury bu, after receiving gifs fom ws, to withdraw your army and ow lack water and ail he other necessary supplies, nor ean you force us olive a different life." Demesas finaly agreed to withdraw. But instead of revealing, he marched Wo the Dead Sea aa decared himself ord ofl the fisheries" and then tastened back to bis father fo report the news, Ta ‘esponse,Anigons sea Hieronymus on hei fated “ytsOentsesigca Tre ‘The Nabataeans continued their petleumexpors 10 Uhan'Sieyelteiomtseth, Egypt well nt the fst centr BC, nd thei wealth continued o grow. Camel caravans cried the rumen along the Wed Arab to Peta or Avdst, and hen north fo the costal ity of (Gara From Gaza i was either loaded aboard sips bound for Alexandra or ken along {he Mediterranean coastine in fesh caravans ito Egypt [As the first century BC progressed, both the Nabatacans end the Egyptians faced a ‘serious threat fom the Romsans. In 62 BC, the Nabatacans fought off several attacks, butinthe end Roman leader Mare Antony finaly took over the kingdom. ‘Before long, Antony fell n love with that extraordinary Greck-Egyptian queen, ‘Cleopatra Vil, wo persuaded him to give her the Nabatacan oil fisheries asa gift. She ‘contrived the fist recorded Ieaschack scheme: fr 200 talents (about $400,000) @ year, she leased the Dead Sea oil works back to the Nabalacan king Malik This deal assured ‘Cleopeta sizable income, which she intended to use to help build « naval let strong ‘enough to defeat Antony's chief rival, Octavian, In 32 BC, Malik I refused to pay. Cleopatra then called on Antony to launch a campaign against the ‘Arabs, The Arabs defeated the invaders and, in 31 BC, Antony himself was defented by Octavian’s forces. Ina desperate sramble to escape to India with ‘Antony, Cleopatra had some other ships dragged ‘overland foe) the Nile fo the Red Sea. No sooner ‘were Cleopatra's boas afloat than the Nabataeans aatacked and set thom ablaze. Antony and Cleopatra were forced to take refuge back in Alexandria, where they committed suicide. After the death of Cleopatra, Egypt became a colony of the new Roman empire created by Octavian, who took te lle "Augustus, ‘tthe same time, the Egyptin custom of ‘mummification ended, The bitumen fisheries of the Dead Sea lost their economic importance. Inthe year 106 of our era, the Nabataeans were incorporated into “the new provinee of Roman Arabia, ree. ni tse The historical rcond of el and interational trade ache relations doesn't end with the Nabatacan, of course. Rater, thei story is the opening chapter in a sage ‘that continues today. slick here to view th origina article ‘Zaye Bai on in Ti a sod atthe Aeris Univers of ei, ch Ur af Roches ane Univers of Clfomia at Bey ‘copyiant © 2008-2015 Aramco Series Company. All ght reserve,