The Ancient City of Petra: The Roman Empire Takes Charge

The Ancient City of Petra: The Roman Empire

Takes Charge
This text is provided courtesy of OLogy, the American Museum of Natural History's website for kids.

This Roman vase with panther-shaped handles was

polished and hand-carved from imported marble, a
stone prized by the Romans.

This is a marble portrait of Aelius Caesar, the father of

Roman Emperor Lucius Verus.

As Petra flourished, the powerful Roman Empire was expanding into the Middle East. The Romans
were eager to expand the boundaries of their empire, and in A.D. 106 they took control of the
Nabataean capital. It appears the Roman takeover was peaceful, and life in Petra went on without
much change. But the empire left an unforgettable mark on the ancient city.

The distinct Roman style can be seen all over Petra, in the monuments, sculptures, public spaces,
and even in the city's design. The Romans built new roads, like the impressive Colonnaded Street
that ran through the center of Petra. Lined with massive columns, this long, straight street was unlike
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 The Ancient City of Petra: The Roman Empire Takes Charge

anything else in the city.

The Roman Empire expanded eastward and took

over Petra in A.D. 106.

Rome ruled Petra for the next 300 years, tying the fate of the ancient city to the empire. Eventually,
Rome moved the center of trade north. The empire also turned to shipping by sea for much of its
trade. Petra's importance in the ancient world began to fade.

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 ReadWorks Vocabulary

Vocabulary

ancient
adjective
definition: Something ancient is a thing that existed or happened a very, very long time ago, like an
ancient kingdom or an ancient tribe of people. When you read about an ancient country,
that country might still exist now--like Egypt or Greece--but you are reading about that
country the way it was maybe thousands of years ago.
It's amazing that people in ancient China made paper two thousand years ago.
Spanish: antiguo

empire
noun
definition: a group of nations or peoples under one ruler or government.
The Roman empire included lands throughout the Mediterranean world.
Spanish: imperio

expand
verb
definition: to become larger or wider.
The stomach expands when a person eats.
Spanish: expandir, extender, dilatar, ensanchar, difundir
forms: expanded, expanding, expands

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Definitions and sample sentences within definitions are provided by Wordsmyth. © 2015 Wordsmyth. All rights reserved.
 The Ancient City of Petra: The Roman Empire Takes Charge - Comprehension Questions

Name: ___________________________________ Date: _______________

1. Who took control of the Nabataean capital Petra in A.D. 106?

2. Read this sentence from the text.

"...the [Roman] empire left an unforgettable mark on the ancient city [Petra]."

Support this conclusion with at least two pieces of evidence from the text.

3. What is the main idea of this text?

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