Palmyra, Syria, Silk Road

The ancient city of Palmyra lies approximately a third of a mile (500m) southwest of the modern-day town of Palmyra. Situated in an oasis within the Syrian desert, between the Mediterranean coast and the Euphrates River, Palmyra was a crucial hub for caravans travelling the Silk Road, flourishing under the Roman Empire. It not only connected the Romans to Persia, India, and beyond but also became a melting pot of Eastern and Western influences. As a result, its art, architecture, and inscriptions blended elements from Palmyrene, Greco-Roman, Persian, and Arabian traditions. 

By the 1st century, Palmyra had been ruled by various empires before becoming part of the Roman Empire. It was during this period that the city reached its golden age. Thriving as a key Silk Road waypoint, Palmyra built many monumental structures, including the Temple of Bel and the Great Colonnade, which stretched for two-thirds of a mile (1.1 km). The city's population, a mix of Amorite, Aramean, and Arab people, spoke Greek for commerce and diplomacy, while Palmyrene Aramaic was used in daily life.

Palmyra peaked in the 3rd century when King Odaenathus defeated the Sassanians and founded the Palmyrene Empire. Its existence, however, was short-lived as the Romans returned under Aurelius and destroyed it a decade later. Though restored by Roman emperor Diocletian, the city declined over centuries, becoming a small village after its final destruction by the Timurids in 1400 and eventually abandoned by 1932. Today, it is an archaeological site with a UNESCO designation. 

As an oasis city offering much-needed shelter and water, caravans would stop to rest and resupply. Bactrian (double-humped) camels were the primary mode of transport, as they could endure harsh desert conditions, require little water, and carry up to 500 pounds (250kg). Caravans could consist of anywhere from 100 to 1,000 camels, or sometimes even more. In addition to carrying goods, caravans also provided a form of protection—not only from difficult environmental conditions, where members could assist one another with food, water, and shelter but also from another significant threat: the bandits lurking in hills and deserts.

Bandits were a constant threat, waiting for the chance to attack the slow-moving, heavily loaded caravans to steal goods or capture people for ransom. The larger the caravan, the harder it was for robbers to attack successfully. To reduce the risk, caravans sometimes hired armed guards or local mercenaries for protection.

Daily travel on a caravan was slow, averaging about 2.5mi/h (4km/h). The journey was often hot and dusty, especially when crossing deserts. Caravans aimed to travel between caravanserais, covering about 25mi (40km) per day. Breaking the journey into two stages, early morning and late afternoon, they would travel 10-12 hours each day. 

While the pace was unrelenting and there was little luxury, the experience was often communal, with a strong sense of camaraderie among travellers. Long periods were spent walking or riding in silence, but it was also a time when ideas could easily be exchanged.