The dividing line between east and west was once considered Abdoun Street and the Fourth Circle. [37] The northwestern region of the Transjordan, known then as Gilead, was settled by the Israelites. A large part of the population already spoke Arabic, which facilitated integration into the caliphate, as well as several conversions to Islam. [155] In 2011, Al Ra'i was ranked the 5th most popular newspaper in the Arab world by Forbes Middle-East report. This burgeoning new nightlife scene is shaped by Jordan's young population. [146], The current monarch, Abdullah II, ascended to the throne in February 1999 after the death of his father King Hussein. [297] The Jerash Festival is an annual music event that features popular Arab singers. [97] The Legion grew from 150 men in 1920 to 8,000 in 1946. [60] The first, or Rashidun, caliphate was followed by that of the Umayyads (661750). It is the residence of the king and the seat of government. [306] They previously reached the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup in 2004 and 2011. [106] A further 200,000 Palestinians arrived after their expulsion from Kuwait during the 1991 Gulf War. Jordanian-Egyptian Land Transport committee holds meeting in Amman [47] The capital of the district in the first half of the 14th century was the minor administrative post of Hisban, which had a considerably smaller garrison than the other administrative centers in Transjordan, namely Ajlun and al-Karak. Museums outside Amman include the Aqaba Archaeological Museum. The Risha field, in the eastern desert beside the Iraqi border, produces nearly 35million cubic feet of gas a day, which is sent to a nearby power plant to generate a small amount of Jordan's electricity needs. The place has so many must-see attractions, and things to do, that you can easily spend here a pleasant day or two. [114], Al-Qaeda under Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's leadership launched coordinated explosions in three hotel lobbies in Amman on 9 November 2005, resulting in 60 deaths and 115 injured. Things You Should Know Before Visiting Amman, Jordan - Culture Trip [52][53] The Ottoman Empire annexed the region of Amman in 1516, but for much of the Ottoman period, al-Salt functioned as the virtual political center of Transjordan. The First and Second Battle of Amman were part of the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I and the Arab Revolt, taking place in 1918. [49] In 1357, Emir Sirghitmish bought Amman in its entirety, most likely to use revenues from the city to help fund the Madrasa of Sirghitmish, which he built in Cairo that same year. The Hebrew translation of Jordan is "Yarad" meaning "to flow downward". Whole of Syria: Country Transparency and Compliance Manager - Amman, Jordan Jordan Country Profile. [162], Successive waves of refugees to the city has led to the rapid construction of new neighborhoods, but Amman's capacity for new or widened roads remains limited despite the influx. [149] Jordan has around 50 political parties representing nationalist, leftist, Islamist, and liberal ideologies. The recent construction of a public transportation system and a national railway, and the expansion of roads, are intended to ease the traffic generated by the millions of annual visitors to the city. To the northeast of the theatre was a small odeon. Jordan is a young state that occupies an ancient land, one that bears the traces of many civilizations. Jordan's main airport, Queen Alia International Airport, is located south of Amman and is the hub for the country's national carrier Royal Jordanian, a major airline in the region. [310] Jordan came within a point of reaching the 2012 Olympics after losing the final of the 2010 Asian Cup to China by the narrowest of margins, 7069, and settling for silver instead. The name was given as an adulation to his own nickname, Philadelphus. Is Jordan Safe? 9 Essential Travel Tips for Visitors - World Nomads Jordan receives 330 days of sunshine per year, and wind speeds reach over 7m/s in the mountainous areas, so renewables proved a promising sector. Amman - Visit Jordan The Ammonites named it Rabat Ammn ( ),[5] with the term Rabat meaning the "Capital" or the "King's Quarters". [222] After having initially set the percentage of renewable energy Jordan aimed to generate by 2020 at 10%, the government announced in 2018 that it sought to beat that figure and aim for 20%. Jordan gained its independence in 1946 and Amman was designated the country's capital. [35], In the 630s, the Rashidun Caliphate conquered the region from the Byzantines, beginning the Islamic era in the Levant. [274], Life expectancy in Jordan was around 74.8 years in 2017. The tournament was held in four stadiums in the three Jordanian cities of Amman, Zarqa and Irbid. [90] Abdullah's successes drew the envy of the British, even when it was in their interest. Jordan prince drops title in protest over how country is run [275] UNESCO ranked Jordan's educational system 18th out of 94 nations for providing gender equality in education. [45], Alexander the Great's conquest of the Persian Empire in 332 BC introduced Hellenistic culture to the Middle East. [44] The kingdoms were reduced to vassals, a status they retained under the Persian and Hellenic Empires. Generally, the further inland from the Mediterranean, there are greater contrasts in temperature and less rainfall. It is situated at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe,[8] within the Levant region, on the East Bank of the Jordan River. Jordan has been repeatedly referred to as an "oasis of stability" in the Middle East. Another BRT system under-construction will connect the city to nearby Zarqa. [31], One of the most original monuments in Jordan, and perhaps in the Hellenistic period in the Near East, is the village of Iraq al-Amir in the valley of Wadi Al-Seer, southwest of Amman, which is home to Qasr al-Abd ('Castle of the Slave'). Jordan: country data and statistics - Worlddata.info Davids son Solomon (flourished 10th century bce) had Ammonite wives in his harem, one of whom became the mother of Rehoboam, Solomons successor as king of Judah. [285], Jordan has 10 public universities, 19 private universities and 54 community colleges, of which 14 are public, 24 private and others affiliated with the Jordanian Armed Forces, the Civil Defense Department, the Ministry of Health and UNRWA. The Jordan Valley drops to about 1,410 feet (430 metres) below sea level at the Dead Sea, the lowest natural point on Earths surface. On 11 April 1921, the Emirate of Transjordan was established with Abdullah as Emir. Locally, the revolt garnered the support of the Transjordanian tribes, including Bedouins, Circassians and Christians. The theatre was the larger venue of the two and had a capacity for 6,000 attendees. [117], The Arab Spring were large-scale protests that erupted in the Arab World in 2011, demanding economic and political reforms. [255][256][257] American and European expatriate communities are concentrated in the capital, as the city is home to many international organisations and diplomatic missions. [48] In 1321, the geographer Abu'l Fida, recorded that Amman was "a very ancient town" with fertile soil and surrounded by agricultural fields. [162], Jordan is a key ally of the US and UK and, together with Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, is one of only three Arab nations to have signed peace treaties with Israel, Jordan's direct neighbour. Moreover, seaside recreation is present on the shores of Aqaba and the Dead Sea through several international resorts. Eight roundabout "circles", which formerly marked neighborhoods, are used as landmarks. Read about itineraries, activities, places to stay and travel essentials and get inspiration from the blog in the best guide to Amman. [58], In 629 AD, during the Battle of Mu'tah in what is today Karak Governorate, the Byzantines and their Arab Christian clients, the Ghassanids, staved off an attack by a Muslim Rashidun force that marched northwards towards the Levant from the Hejaz (in modern-day Saudi Arabia). [56] The first Circassian settlers, who belonged to the Shapsug dialect group,[57] lived near Amman's Roman theater and incorporated its stones into the houses they built. [135] Sweifieh is considered to be the unofficial red-light district of Amman as it holds most of the city's nightclubs, bars. The project is expected to be opened by 2025. In 106 ce it was included in the Roman province of Arabia and rebuilt by the Romans; some fine ruins of their rule in this period have survived. [157] There are concerns that the government will use the COVID-19 pandemic in Jordan to silence dissidents. Regional instability over the decades halted oil and gas supply to the kingdom from various sources, making it incur billions of dollars in losses. Ministry of Transport Secretary-General Wissam Tahtamoni commended the two countries' keenness to enhance cooperation and overcome difficulties to facilitate transport and trade operations, the . This land area is approximately 112% of the area of Maine. Jordans main north-south highway, with its southern terminus at Al-Aqabah port, runs through the city. The city is generally reasonably well-organized . Green Amman 2020 was initiated in 2014, aiming to turn the city to a green metropolis by 2020. The Red SeaDead Sea Water Conveyance project, carried out by Jordan, will provide water to the country and to Israel and Palestine, while the brine will be carried to the Dead Sea to help stabilise its levels. [54] The English traveller Laurence Oliphant noted in his 1879 visit that most of the original Circassian settlers had left Amman by then, with about 150 remaining. [20], Jordan's economy is relatively well-diversified. [240] The facility is the first nuclear reactor in the country and will provide Jordan with radioactive isotopes for medical usage and provide training to students to produce a skilled workforce for the country's planned commercial nuclear reactors. [204] Some very well preserved historical cities include Petra and Jerash, the former being Jordan's most popular tourist attraction and an icon of the kingdom. Outcrops of sandstone, chalk, limestone, and flint extend to the extreme south, where igneous rocks predominate. In the northern uplands several valleys containing perennial streams run west; around Al-Karak they flow west, east, and north; south of Al-Karak intermittent valley streams run east toward Al-Jafr Depression. [92] In March 1921, the British decided to add Transjordan to their Mandate for Palestine, in which they would implement their "Sharifian Solution" policy without applying the provisions of the mandate dealing with Jewish settlement. [60] The Abbasid Caliphate's campaign to take over the Umayyad's began in Transjordan. [313] In 2014, a NGO Make Life Skate Life completed construction of the 7Hills Skatepark, the first skatepark in the country located in Downtown Amman. [79] Transjordan's tribes in particular revolted during the Shoubak (1905) and the Karak Revolts (1910), which were brutally suppressed. 7/24. [75] In 1833 Ibrahim Pasha turned on the Ottomans and established his rule over the Levant. [261], Jordan contains some of the oldest Christian communities in the world, dating as early as the 1st century AD after the crucifixion of Jesus. After that year the Public Safety Directorate was established. [158][159], The first level subdivision in Jordan is the muhafazah or governorate. [157], Many events take place in Amman, including Red Bull-sponsored events Soundclash and Soapbox race, the second part of Jerash Festival, Al-Balad Music Festival, Amman Marathon, Made in Jordan Festival, Amman Book Festival and New Think Festival. [72] The most important areas in the city are named after the hills or mountains they lie on. Jordan's national basketball team is participating in various international and Middle Eastern tournaments. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. [120], In the west, a highland area of arable land and Mediterranean evergreen forestry drops suddenly into the Jordan Rift Valley. [20] The country's average elevation is 812m (2,664ft) (SL). He refocused the government's agenda on economic reform, during his first year. Many Shia are Iraqi and Lebanese refugees. During the first Gulf War (1990), these relations were damaged by Jordan's neutrality and its maintenance of relations with Iraq. [110] The War of Attrition with Israel followed, which included the 1968 Battle of Karameh where the combined forces of the Jordanian Armed Forces and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) repelled an Israeli attack on the Karameh camp on the Jordanian border with the West Bank. East vs West Very broadly speaking, western Amman is more liberal, while eastern Amman is more traditional and less exposed to foreigners. Omissions? [166][167] It enjoys "advanced status" with the European Union and is part of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), which aims to increase links between the EU and its neighbours. [19] Net official development assistance to Jordan in 2009 totalled US$761million; according to the government, approximately two-thirds of this was allocated as grants, of which half was direct budget support. Region Middle East. City Coordinates: 315659N 355558E. Its function as the capital of the country attracted immigrants from different Levantine areas, particularly from al-Salt, a nearby city that had been the largest urban settlement east of the Jordan River at the time. In 2010, there were 8million visitors to Jordan. [170] The Jordanian military enjoys strong support and aid from the United States, the United Kingdom and France. Hanun's brother, Shobi, was made king in his place, and became a loyal vassal of David (2 Samuel 17:27). [124] Although the desert parts of the kingdom reach high temperatures, the heat is usually moderated by low humidity and a daytime breeze, while the nights are cool. England only partially decriminalized it in 1967, whereas the United States waited until . The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan joined the United Nations on 14 December 1955. The royal palaces are to the east; the Parliament is in the western section. [230] The main industrial products are potash, phosphates, cement, clothes, and fertilisers. Jordan is the region's top medical tourism destination, as rated by the World Bank, and fifth in the world overall. [272] Chechen, Circassian, Armenian, Tagalog, and Russian are popular among their communities. Amman, Amman, Jordan Weather Forecast | AccuWeather [206] Ajlun Castle built by Muslim Ayyubid leader Saladin in the 12th century AD during his wars with the Crusaders, is also a popular tourist attraction. [119] Jordan was left largely unscathed from the violence that swept the region despite an influx of 1.4million Syrian refugees into the natural resources-lacking country and the emergence of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).[119]. [53], In 324 AD, the Roman Empire split and the Eastern Roman Empire, later known as the Byzantine Empire, continued to control or influence the region until 636 AD. 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", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jordan&oldid=1165189518, This page was last edited on 13 July 2023, at 15:40. [115], Large numbers of Christians from throughout Jordan, particularly from al-Salt, have moved to Amman. [44] During the Ayyubid period, the Damascene geographer al-Dimashqi wrote that Amman was part of the province of al-Karak, although "only ruins" remained of the town. The Rashidun Caliphate conquered the city from the Byzantines in the 7th century AD, restored its ancient Semitic name and called it Amman. [196], Jordan is ranked as having the 35th best infrastructure in the world, one of the highest rankings in the developing world, according to the 2010 World Economic Forum's Index of Economic Competitiveness. The site contains some well-preserved mosaic floors, particularly the mosaic floor of the Church of Saint Stephen. Jordan has a strong policy for inclusive sport and invests heavily in encouraging girls and women to participate in all sports. [214] The trail aims to revive the Jordanian tourism sector. [124] Winter also sees frequent showers and occasional snowfall in some western elevated areas. [110] The Arab states were defeated and Jordan lost control of the West Bank to Israel. Arab Bank represents 28% of the Amman Stock Exchange and is the highest-ranked institution by market capitalization on the exchange. Amman is the capital and largest city of Jordan and It is located 31.96 latitude and 35.95 longitude and it is situated at 757 meters above sea level. [57] Kurdish settlers formed their own quarter called "al-Akrad" after them, while a number of townspeople from nearby al-Salt and al-Fuheis, seeking to avoid high taxes and conscription or attracted by financial incentives, and traders from Najd and Morocco, had also moved to the town. Amman ( English: / mn /; Arabic: , Ammn pronounced [aman]) [5] [6] is the capital and the largest city of Jordan, and the country's economic, political, and cultural center. [183] The Jordanian economy is one of the smallest economies in the region, and the country's populace suffers from relatively high rates of unemployment and poverty. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, the city alternated between periods of devastation and abandonment and periods of relative prosperity as the center of the Balqa region. Stealing from or harming tourists is strongly frowned upon by locals and harsh punishments exist for offenders. [129] The mountainous regions in the northwest are clothed in natural forests of pine, deciduous oak, evergreen oak, pistachio and wild olive. Jordan is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south and east, Iraq to the northeast, Syria to the north, and the Palestinian West Bank and Israel to the west. [34] Philadelphia became a point along a road stretching from Ailah to Damascus that was built by Emperor Trajan in AD 106. Unicef: Nutrition Specialist , P3, Temporary Appointment (364 days [137] The king exercises his powers through the government that he appoints for a four-year term, which is responsible before the parliament that is made up of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives. [114] According to the World Bank, Syrian refugees have cost Jordan more than $2.5billion a year, amounting to 6% of the GDP and 25% of the government's annual revenue. In the 3rd century BC, Ptolemy II Philadelphus, Pharaoh of Ptolemaic Egypt, rebuilt the city and renamed it "Philadelphia", making it a regional center of Hellenistic culture. [223], Jordan has the 5th largest oil-shale reserves in the world, which could be commercially exploited in the central and northwestern regions of the country. [123] Nature reserves in Jordan include the Dana Biosphere Reserve, the Azraq Wetland Reserve, the Shaumari Wildlife Reserve and the Mujib Nature Reserve. Fortified settlements have existed there since remote antiquity; the earliest remains are of the Chalcolithic Age (c. 4000c. President, Jordan Institute for Middle Eastern Studies. More about Jordan: Searchable map/satellite view of Jordan. Amman was later a great city of Middle Eastern antiquity, Philadelphia, of the Roman Decapolis, and now serves as one of the regions principal commercial and transportation centres as well as one of the Arab worlds major cultural capitals. [13] From as early as 1948, Jordan has accepted refugees from multiple neighbouring countries in conflict. Jordan incurred billions of dollars in losses because it had to substitute more expensive heavy-fuel oils to generate electricity. Emeritus Professor of Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. [174] Jordan has dispatched several field hospitals to conflict zones and areas affected by natural disasters across the region. [166], The BRT system in Amman runs on 2 routes: the first from Sweileh in northwest Amman to the Ras Al-Ain area next to downtown Amman, and the second from Sweileh to Mahatta terminal in eastern Amman. It was influenced by several civilizations including the Romans, Byzantines and Muslims. Currently, the railway has little civilian activity; it is primarily used for transporting goods. Al-Assaf, G. and Al-Malki, A., (2014), "Modelling the Macroeconomic Determinants of Workers' Remittances: The Case of Jordan". It is considered one of Amman's many landmarks and is the first curved suspended bridge to be built in the country. This high infrastructural development is necessitated by its role as a transit country for goods and services mainly to Palestine and Iraq. Report by His Britannic Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Council of the League of Nations on the Administration of Palestine and Trans-Jordan for the year 1933, Colonial No. A second wave arrived after the Six-Day War in 1967. Jordanian Sign Language is the language of the deaf community. [272] German is an increasingly popular language; it has been introduced at a larger scale since the establishment of the German-Jordanian University in 2005. [136], The 65 members of the upper Senate are directly appointed by the king, the constitution mandates that they be veteran politicians, judges and generals who previously served in the government or in the House of Representatives. There are no official statistics about the proportion of people of Palestinian or Jordanian descent. [280] The country's health care system is divided between public and private institutions. The bones showed evidence of burning, which led to the assumption that the altar functioned as a pyre and used for human sacrifice. [298] There is also an increasing growth of alternative Arabic rock bands, who are dominating the scene in the Arab World, including: El Morabba3, Autostrad, JadaL, Akher Zapheer and Aziz Maraka. [117] Ecclesiastical courts for matters of personal status are also located in Amman. [205] Islamic sites include shrines of the prophet Muhammad's companions such as 'Abd Allah ibn Rawahah, Zayd ibn Harithah and Muadh ibn Jabal. In 1946, Jordan gained independence and became officially known in Arabic as the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. This strained Jordan's scarce water supply and exposed Amman to the dangers of quick expansion without careful municipal planning. Football is the most popular sport in Jordan. [158] Venues for such cultural events often include the Roman and Odeon Theaters downtown, the Ras al Ain Hanger, King Hussein Business Park, Rainbow Theater and Shams Theater, the Royal Film Commission, Shoman libraries and Darat al Funun, and the Royal Cultural Center at Sports City. As an old tradition, the dish is eaten using one's hands, but the tradition is not always used. [134], Four terrestrial ecoregions lie with Jordan's borders: Syrian xeric grasslands and shrublands, Eastern Mediterranean conifer-sclerophyllous-broadleaf forests, Mesopotamian shrub desert, and Red Sea Nubo-Sindian tropical desert and semi-desert. The Jordan River, approximately 186 miles (300 km) in length, meanders south, draining the waters of Lake Tiberias (better known as the Sea of Galilee), the Yarmk River, and the valley streams of both plateaus into the Dead Sea, which occupies the central area of the valley. In Jordanian cuisine, drinking coffee and tea flavoured with na'na or meramiyyeh is almost a ritual. [118], Downtown Amman, the city center area (known in Arabic as Al-Balad), has been dwarfed by the sprawling urban area that surrounds it.

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