纪录片《文明》 第28期 创世纪的第二个瞬间（28）（在线收听）

More amazing still,

更令人惊讶的是

this place was built by people who were nomads

建造此地的人在公元前四世纪

when they first arrived here in the fourth century before Christ.

首次来到这里时还是游牧民族

The Nabataeans were goat herders,

纳巴泰人畜牧羊群

camel riders, dwellers in tents.

驾驭骆驼 住于帐篷之中

But flocks and herds weren't going to produce this.

但游牧民族不会建起这样的地方

Petra was built on trade in incense.

佩特拉立于熏香贸易之上

2,000 years ago,

两千年前

aromatic frankincense and myrrh were essential

乳香和没药在渗透进日常生活的

for the ceremonies and rituals which punctuated daily life.

庆典和仪式中非常重要

The nondescript little chunks and granules of dried tree resin

小块干燥不起眼的树脂

produced these clouds of fragrant incense smoke,

却能产生这些弥漫的香雾

and they became the hottest trade between Africa and Persia.

它们成了非洲和波斯贸易中最火的商品

And here's the thing, the trees that produce the resin

然而 生产这种树脂的树

only grow in a particular part of Arabia,

只生长在阿拉伯的特定地区

and who knew that desert mile by stony mile,

而谁又能比纳巴泰人更了解那里的

oasis by oasis, better than the Nabataeans?

一沙一石 一草一木呢

No-one.