Amber Road
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The Amber Road (in Lithuanian: Gintaro kelias; Polish: Szlak Bursztynowy, Jantarowy Szlak; in German: Bernsteinstraße; in Russian: Янтарный путь) was an ancient trade route for the transfer of amber. As one of the waterways and ancient 'highways', the road for centuries led from Europe to Asia and vice versa, and from northern Europe to the Mediterranean.
A vital component of ornamental objects, amber was transported from the North Sea and Baltic Sea coasts overland by way of the Vistula and Dnieper rivers to Italy, Greece, the Black Sea, and Egypt long before the birth of Jesus and long after.
In Roman times, a main route ran south from the Baltic coast in Prussia through the land of the Boii (modern Bohemia) to the head of the Adriatic Sea. The Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun had Baltic amber among his burial goods, and amber was sent from the North Sea to the temple of Apollo at Delphi as an offering. From the Black Sea, trade could continue to Asia along the Silk Road, another ancient trade route.
Prussian town Truso on the Baltic was one of the main trading places; Truso was near the later city of Elbląg at the Druzno lake.
Overview of Amber Roads
The following amber roads may be discerned:
- Poland
The (oldest ?) road from the Baltic coastline (Estland) heading southwards to Bratislawa and leading to Aquileia at the Adriatic coast. Another route did lead towards the Black Sea in Russia
- Germany (see map)
Several roads connecting the North Sea (Nordsee) and East Sea (Ostsee), especially the city of (H)Ambur(g) to Brennerpass ("Burner"-pass) prolonging southwards to Brundisium (Italy) and Ambracia (Greece)
German_Amber_Roads.gif
- Holland
A small section, containing Baarn, Barneveld, Am(b)ersfoort and Am(b)erongen, and connecting the North Sea with the Lower Rhine.
- Belgium
A small section, leading southwards from Antwerpen (Spanish: Amberes) to the towns of Braisne.
- France
only a fragment at Ambares (near Bordeaux).
For further details on amber roads see (1 MByte pdf-file): [[1] (http://www.joannesrichter.homepage.t-online.de/Androgyn/SpellingTUI.pdf)]
Weblinks
- OWTRAD-scientific description of the amber road in Poland (http://www.ciolek.com/OWTRAD/DATA/tmcZCEm0100.html)
- Old World Traditional Trade Routes (OWTRAD) Project (http://www.ciolek.com/owtrad.html)
scientific description of the amber road in Poland
- Sketched summary of amber roads (http://www.amberroad.net/index.php?lg=de&ctid=2)
- amber route along the river Elbe (http://www.american.edu/TED/amber.htm)
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