Frankincense Road

“Tears of the Gods,” as frankincense is also called, were responsible for worldwide trade relations, power, and wealth. The resin, weighed against gold, was transported by camels on the frankincense road, the oldest trade route in the world. The first recorded transport of frankincense took place in the tenth century BC when the Queen of Sheba visited King Solomon. Trade within Arabia likely developed at this time due to the domestication of the camel since camels could carry heavy loads and go for several days without water, allowing trade routes to traverse barren desert areas as well. The route of the ancient frankincense road began in Dhofar (Oman), passed through present-day Yemen along the western coast of Arabia, and finally ended in Gaza and Damascus. Camel caravans took 100 days to cover this approximately 3400 kilometers long distance.

The heyday of the frankincense road lasted from the fifth century BC to the first century AD. During this time, cities and kingdoms emerged along the trade route, serving as transshipment points and watering places, but imposing high tariffs. Through these revenues, they gained power and wealth. However, a disadvantage was that they were dependent on frankincense as there were neither fertile soils for growing crops nor bodies of water for maritime trade in the dry desert landscape. When the Red Sea was opened up and trade over it could be conducted faster and mainly without high tariffs, the kingdoms along the frankincense road lost importance and eventually perished.