![]() "We've probably uncovered only about 2 percent of the ancient city, so there are still several lifetimes' worth of work to be done." "This is an amazing, huge site with excellent preservation because of the hyper-arid climate," Sidebotham says. There, layer by layer, the ancient, multicultural city that for centuries was a trading hub of the Roman Empire reveals a new chapter of its story to him and his international team. Working painstakingly and in severe desert conditions where every drop of water and all food, supplies and equipment must be hauled to the site from great distances, Sidebotham travels to the Red Sea port every year. "In the Roman era, Berenike became a very international emporium, trading as far west as Spain and as far east as Indonesia, and it was an extremely cosmopolitan place." "You hear a lot about globalization today, but there was a 'global economy' linking Europe, Africa and Asia during the first century of the Christian era, and the city of Berenike is a perfect example of that," says the University of Delaware history professor and archaeologist, who has been uncovering the secrets of the ancient Egyptian port for almost two decades. ![]() It's commonly accepted that today's economy is a global one, but make no mistake about it, says Steven Sidebotham: We aren't the first people to experience such a phenomenon, and it isn't unique to the last century - or even the last millennium. ![]() Since 1994, UD's Steven Sidebotham has been working to uncover Berenike's story. Berenike would reign as the major trading center between Africa's east coast, Alexandria, Rome, Arabia, and India until the port was abandoned 800 years later, in the 6th century A.D. They were ferried from farther south along the African Red Sea coast aboard large transport vessels. The Red Sea harbor was needed for importing elephants for use as "tanks" for war. An intellectual destination for the artsįounded Berenike, which he named for his mother.The interdisciplinary humanities blossom: Q&A with Ann ArdisÄon't underestimate technology's role in politics.Brings the Wonder of Dragonflies to Light
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