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Revision as of 20:19, 4 February 2006 by Mervyn (talk | contribs) (copyedit, format check, not a stub)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)The Amber Road (in Lithuanian: Gintaro kelias; Polish: Szlak Bursztynowy, Jantarowy Szlak; in German: Bernsteinstraße; in Hungarian: Borostyán út, in Russian: Янтарный путь) was an ancient trade route for the transfer of amber. As one of the waterways and ancient highways, for centuries the road led from Europe to Asia and back, 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.
The Prussian town of Truso on the Baltic, was one of the main trading places; Truso was near the town of Elbląg, near lake Druzno, in the Masurian lake district.
In Scandinavia the amber road probably gave rise to the thriving Nordic Bronze Age culture, bringing influences from the Mediterranean Sea to the northernmost countries of Europe.
Overview of known amber roads by country
Poland
The shortest (and possibly oldest) road avoids alpine areas and led from the Baltic coastline (Estland) heading southwards to Bratislava down to Aquileia at the Adriatic coast. Another route led towards the Black Sea in Russia.
Germany
Several roads connected the North Sea (Nordsee) and East Sea (Ostsee), especially the city of Ambur (now Hamburg) to the Brenner Pass ("Burner"-pass), proceeding southwards to Brindisi (Brundisium) in Italy and Ambracia (Greece). (See map at right)
Switzerland
The Swiss region indicates a number of alpine roads, concentrating around the capital city Bern (Bernstein is the German for amber) and probably originating from the borders of the Rhône River and the Rhine.
Holland
A small section, including Baarn, Barneveld, Am(b)ersfoort and Am(b)erongen, and connected the North Sea with the Lower Rhine.
Belgium
A small section, led southwards from Antwerp and Bruges to the towns Braine-l’Alleud and Braine-le-Comte, both originally named "Brennia-Brenna" (Latin: “Burner”). The route have continued by following the Meuse River.
France
Only a fragment at Ambares (near Bordeaux).
External links
- OWTRAD-scientific description of the amber road in Poland
- Old World Traditional Trade Routes (OWTRAD) Project
- Sketched summary of amber roads
- Amber route along the river Elbe
- Joannes Richter - "Spelling Thee, U & I - Introducing into the art of amber trading & Initiation in the great Androgyne Religion" (pdf file)
- Joannes Richter - "Die Bernsteinroute bei Backnang" (pdf file)