The City of Petra was established as a trading post by the Nabateans,an Arab Bedouin tribe indigeneous to the region in what is now southwestern Jordan.The Nabateans living and trading in Petra soon accumulated a significant amount of wealth ,and an envious Greek Empire attacked the city in 312 B.C.This event marks the first references to petra in recorded history.
The Nabateans successfully fought back the Greek Invaders by taking advantage of the mountainous terrain surrounding the city .The mountains effectively served as a natural wall,buttressing Petra.However,the Greek Incursions was not the last time the city would come under attack.
In fact, the Romans would invade Petra in 106A.D,and ultimately forced Nabateans to surrender.The Roman Enpire annexed the newly gained territory and changed its name to Arabia Petraea.They continued to rule over the city for more than 250 years until the middle of the fourth century A.D,when an earth quake destroyed many of its building . The Byzantines eventually took control of the region ,and governed Petra for some 300 years.
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