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Document Details : Title: Dangerous Trade Routes Subtitle: On the Plundering of Caravans in the Pre-Islamic Near East Author(s): MARAQTEN, Mohammed Journal: ARAM Periodical Volume: 8 Issue: 1 Date: 1996 Pages: 213-236 DOI: 10.2143/ARAM.8.1.2002195 Abstract : There is no accurate data about caravans and caravan trade before the beginning of the 2nd millennium BC. In general, however, information may be gained primarily from cuneiform sources, and from other groups of Semitic epigraphy such as South Arabian and Palmyrene inscriptions. Classical authors and Arabic sources also provide some data on this subject. The object of this paper is to present some problems which confronted caravans on their journeys, particularly attacks and plundering. After a brief discussion of the organisation of caravans, this paper will provide a few examples of attacks and raids on caravans in the Near East from the 2nd millennium BC, the 1st millennium BC, and also from pre-Islamic Arabia. It is not the purpose of this paper to study the caravan routes in the ancient Near East, which has been the subject of study by several scholars. |
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