The Incense Route: Frankincense, Myrrh, and the South Arabian Kingdoms

Before silk or spices, frankincense and myrrh fueled the world's first global trade network. This episode traces the Incense Route from the arid mountains of Dhofar and Hadhramaut to the temples of Rome and the pyramids of Egypt. We meet the Sabaeans, Minaeans, and Qatabanians — the South Arabian kingdoms that grew wealthy taxing caravans carrying resins worth more than gold. We explore the frankincense trees of Wadi Dawkah, the lost port of Sumhuram, and the rock-cut capital of Shabwa. Why were these aromatics so prized in antiquity? How did climate change and the rise of Christianity and Islam reshape demand? And what happened when the Romans discovered the monsoon winds and bypassed the overland route entirely? Along the way, Lucas and Luna discuss the Pliny passage that still baffles scholars, the role of the Nabataeans as middlemen, and the enigmatic 'Lost City of Ubar' — a legend that turned out to be real. A story of monopoly, luxury, and ecological fragility that echoes into our own time. #IncenseRoute #Frankincense #Myrrh #SouthArabia #Sabaeans #Minaeans #Qatabanians #Dhofar #Hadhramaut #WadiDawkah #Sumhuram #Shabwa #Nabataeans #PlinyTheElder #AncientTrade #History #FexingoHistory #Periplus Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo