Petra


 * Petra: Lost city of stone **

1. Jordan is quite __safe__

2. located at the crossroads between __European__ and __Orient civilization__

3. Many ruins from the distant past are everywhere. For example: __Petra__, the Nabataean __capital__, discovered in __XIX century__ by a __swiss explorer__

4. Nowadays, this city is considered one of the seven __wonders__ of the __world__

**Questions about Petra **

1. **Where is Petra located?**

Deep within deserts of Jordan

2. **Who were its inhabitants?**

The Nabataens

3.**What is/are its characteristics?**

They were a group of Arabian nomads as desert traders. They had acquired control of the ancient incense and spice trade throughout the Arabian Penenisula. Scant clues exist to revel exactly where these migrants originated.

4. **How important were tombs in Petra? What did they mean?**

they were very important because they memorialize their kings and leaders, they symbolize the eternity of the kings


 * 5.How did this city become an urban center? **

Thus city become an urba center bye the end of the first century BC. The city grew along the natural conoturs of the landscape. the Nabataeans paved the road through the Siq, enabling wheeled vehicules to import quarried limestones used in city construction.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">6. **How was this city organized/planned?**

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The planners did their best to impose an urban grid on this sprawling settlement. The Colonnade Street in Petra symbolize Rome's political presence because this is based on the straight road along the central marketplace that Rome's cities have.

**<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Paragraph 2 ** <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The main topic of this Reading is about Petra, it is located deep within THE deserts of Jordan. It stood at a crossroads of the acient Near East, in Egipto. Petra is identified by spectaculars ruins, the hand carved sandstone cliffs of southerm Jordan and it is a Place where can be observed impressive monuments (WORD ORDER), its architecture was amazing, because it had great structures and buildings with colorful facades. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The first inhabitants of the place were the Nabateans. They were a group of Arabian nomads as desert traders. They had acquired control of the ancient incense and spice trade throughout the Arabian Penenisula. Scant clues exist to revel exactly where these migrants originated.They were engineers and artists, they learned how to use their natural resources. Through this trade, the city prospered because during this time the city evolved into a bustling hub of international commerce and culture. As an urban center, it was extraordinary. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">In the architectural aspect, the tombs were monumental structures to memorialize their kings and also to preserve the honor in the other life of those who died. Also they have based on hellenistic architecture greek was built imposing columns called flat pilasters. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The city of Petra began as a gathering site for Nabateans traders carrying incense, spice and perfume, they were one of the most civilized people of antiquity. For that the city of Petra is an example of organization, planning and incredible architecture. Over time, due to political circumstances of the time made the city to be forgotten. But now it is considered as one of the seven wonders of the world.