12. Incense
Incense, particularly frankincense and myrrh, was vital for religious ceremonies and medicine in ancient times. The Incense Route, an extensive network of land and sea paths, connected the Mediterranean world with the incense-producing regions of southern Arabia. This trade route was heavily protected and immensely profitable for centuries, facilitating the exchange of these aromatic resins and contributing to the wealth of the civilizations involved. (smithsonianmag.com)
