Donkeys are mentioned as a way of transportation in the Bible. Balaam, the prophet, rode a donkey. As riding a donkey, and the king is described. In the same way, a donkey was ridden by Jesus into Jerusalem before he was to die on a cross. Donkeys were also utilized to take equipment from place to place. Horses were less affordable than donkeys. As a way of transport, kings and armies initially used horses.
Finally, all Armies from the Near East used horses pull battle chariots and to carry soldiers. Messengers can also used horses to bring news rapidly from place to place. On the other hand, and the strong, but moving oxen, were used to pull wagons, carts, and plows. Since they traveled with their pack animals groups of merchants, pilgrims, or retailers joined together for security. Travel by caravans and trade go back as far as recorded history. Caravans were probably in use before the rise of travel and sea trade. As civilizations developed, caravans became very significant to that the economies of cities and empires.
Cities fall or can rise dependant upon their proximity to caravan routes that are significant, and empires had interests in protecting trade routes. Caravans were large and their cargo required the security of guards or soldiers. Before heading south to Palestine they provided the markets of Aleppo, Hamath, and Damascus. From there, they’d travel to places near the Red Sea or to Egypt. Other caravans came from central Along with southern Mesopotamia. Even though this land was directly east of Palestine, almost all these caravans had to move north along that the Tigris and Euphrates River valleys as opposed to directly west throughout the Syrian Desert.
These paths, though long, were comparatively safe, and caravans might make stops on that the way to refresh their animals before heading south into Palestine. Some routes went straight west from Babylon Along with Accad to Damascus, but these paths were dangerous because they crossed many miles of desert. In that the deserts of that the ancient Near East, Egypt and northern Africa, that the animal most frequently utilized in caravans was the camel. Some nomads who invaded that the Israelite people rode on camels. Camels are that the best pack animals for desert traveling because they’re strong, have natural security from the environment, and may travel prolonged distances without the need to stop for water. In hot weather, on a long trip, a camel generally carried no more than 3 hundred fifty pounds.