CChronica Maps

Incense Route: Route Map and History

Caravan route carrying frankincense and myrrh from southern Arabia to the Mediterranean. The Nabataeans of Petra grew rich by controlling its northern end.

Map of the Incense Route in 200 BC
Border map for 200 BC. See the world in 200 BC.

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Key facts

Active500 BC – AD 200 (approximate)
Length shown on the mapabout 3,100 km
Main stops8

Stops along the Incense Route

StopRuled by in 500 BCRuled by in 300 BCRuled by in 1 BCRuled by in AD 200
1DhofarUnclaimed / no dataHadramautHadramautHadramaut
2ShabwaUnclaimed / no dataQatabanHimyarite KingdomHimyarite Kingdom
3MaribUnclaimed / no dataQatabanHimyarite KingdomHimyarite Kingdom
4NajranSabaSabaHimyarite KingdomHimyarite Kingdom
5Yathrib (Medina)Unclaimed / no dataUnclaimed / no dataUnclaimed / no dataUnclaimed / no data
6HegraAchaemenid EmpireNabatean KingdomUnclaimed / no dataUnclaimed / no data
7PetraAchaemenid EmpireNabatean KingdomNabatean KingdomRoman Empire
8GazaAchaemenid EmpireKingdom of AntigonusJudeaRoman Empire

The route is drawn schematically through its main stops; real caravans and ships used many variants. The state columns come from the border maps closest to each year.

Other trade routes