One of the wonders of the ancient world, the city of Petra was carved out of the Jordanian mountains by the Nabataean people. Defensively secure, and positioned at the crossroads of two major trading routes, the city became the most important commercial and cultural centre of the Middle East between 50 BC and AD 50.

During the second and third centuries, Petra’s thriving society gradually declined, until an earthquake caused devastation. The city was never rebuilt and slid into obscurity. A secret in the desert.

Abandoned for centuries by all but a handful of Bedouin nomads, Petra was discovered in 1812 when an intrepid Swiss explorer, Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, stumbled upon this archaeological gem and shared it with the world.

This DVD is accompanied by a beautifully illustrated 24-page hardcover book. Watch and discover the secrets of cultures that thrived for centuries and then disappeared, and at the same time read the captivating book packed with intriguing facts, illustrations, photography and more.

Narrated by Leonard Nimoy
Produced by FilmRoos Inc in association with A&E Television for the History Channel (1994).

 To watch a pre-view of this DVD please visit YouTube or watch it at the bottom of this page