Audience: Students; Grades: 9-12; Subject Areas: History, Cultures. (2002) Follows the ancient trades routes that stopped in the Middle East. Describes the Incense Route and the Silk Road. Visits Marib in Yemen and discusses its hydraulic feats, the Sabians and its link to the Queen of Sheba. Continues to Sana'a, the capital of Yemen. Stops by Barakesh with its inscriptions and well. Introduces Swiss explorer John Burckhardt and his rediscovery of the lost city, Petra. Highlights the city of Palmyra where the incense and silk routes intersected. Uses three dimensional graphics to illustrate what the buildings would have looked like in Palmyra.