Did the Nabataeans of Arabia ever trade with China? If they did, did they trade directly with mainland China, or was it through Asian or Indian middlemen? Or did Nabataean sailors meet Chinese merchants at a midway point, such as Sri Lanka?

In order to answer these questions, it is important to understand what was taking place in China during the Nabataean era. (See An Overview of Chinese History) It is also important to understand that many historians believe that an active maritime trade route existed between Alexandria and China during the years 250 BC to 250 AD. (See The Ancient Maritime Sea Route) To discover the Nabataean's role in this, please visit: (Who were the Ancient Arab Sea Traders?)

Note: The links on this map have been deactivated. Please visit : nabataea.net/msroute.html to explore this map and it's links.

Method of Study
While direct archeological evidence has yet to immerge, I believe it is possible to intelligently speculate about contact between the Chinese and the Arabs during the Nabataean period. In order to do this I have investigated four specific areas.

1. What was happening in respect to Chinese Maritime History? Chinese Maritime history needs to be looked at from two perspectives. First, a chronological look will help us understand what was happening in the greater Chinese situation. Secondly, I believe it is important to then start at well documented events in later Chinese Maritime history and work backwards, trying to trace how the Chinese developed their particular technologies and theories of ship building, navigation, and patterns of trade. This will help us understand the maritime abilities of the Chinese during the period from 250 BC to 250 AD.

2. Anomalies or technology that was suddenly introduced. Usually technology is gradually developed, and new precepts are built on old ones. When technology takes a sudden leap, it is safe to assume that new knowledge was gained from an outside source. Where there technologies and knowledge that were exclusively available in China that passed to the Arabs, or visa versa? This also points to direct links between these two great civilizations.

3. Tangible historical links between the Arabs and the Chinese during the Greek and Roman Empires. This includes pottery, coins, inscriptions, as well as historical records written by Greek, Roman and Chinese explorers and historians. There are many tangible indications of a great maritime trade route that existed between Rome and China between 250 BC and 250 AD., where the Arabs acted as the principle sea merchants from the Roman side.