The Middle Eastern nation of Jordan is a small state with an ancient history. The modern kingdom of Jordan dates to 1946. However, the area has been controlled by numerous influential civilizations since biblical times. The capital of Jordan is Amman. GeographyJordan is located in the heart of the Middle East. It is bordered by Syria to the north, Iraq to the northeast, and Saudi Arabia to the east and south. Israel and the West Bank lie to the west. The Jordan River flows along Jordan's western border until it empties into the Dead Sea. In the southwest, Jordan has a short stretch of coastline on the Gulf of Aqaba, which is an arm of the Red Sea. Al-?Aqabah, the country's only port, lies along this coast. Jordan occupies an area of 34,495 square miles (89,342 square kilometers). Jordan is divided into three distinct areas. From west to east they are the valley, the highlands, and the desert. The valley runs along the Jordan River in the west. This fertile region is the country's main farming area. It is very low lying. The Dead Sea is the lowest part of the Earth's surface, at about 1,312 feet (400 meters) below sea level. Jordan's valley region is part of the Great Rift Valley, a long, deep depression that extends southward into Africa. The land in Jordan rises to the east into a rocky, elevated region of highlands. The highlands reach 5,755 feet (1,754 meters) above sea level at Mount Ramm, which is Jordan's highest point. East of the highlands is the vast desert, which takes up more than 80 percent of Jordan's area. The desert is composed of sand dunes, flatlands, and sandstone cliffs. Most of Jordan's desert is part of the great Syrian Desert, which also extends into Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. Jordan's climate varies greatly by region. The country is generally dry, with a hot summer and a cool winter. Plants and animalsThe types of plants found in the country also vary by region. Water has been brought to the Jordan River valley for many planting projects. Bananas, palm dates, and citrus fruits are grown in the valley region. However, the Dead Sea is too salty to support most life, so no plants grow around it. The highlands have thick bushes and small trees. There are also a few forests. To the east are grasslands and sagebrush. Plant life in the desert is extremely sparse. The animals found in Jordan include wild boars, hares, jackals, foxes, wildcats, hyenas, wolves, mongooses, and gazelles. Among the country's birds are golden eagles, vultures, pigeons, and partridges. The Gulf of Aqaba is home to coral reefs and a wide variety of fish. People and cultureMost of the country's people are Arabs. About a third of the Arabs are Palestinians who moved to Jordan from Israel, the West Bank, or Kuwait. Jordan also has small pockets of Armenians, Circassians, and Kurds. The vast majority of the people practice Islam. Most of the rest are Christian. Arabic is the official language of Jordan. English is also spoken. About three quarters of the people live in cities. Amman is the largest city in the country, followed by Az-Zarqa? and Irbid. EconomyUnlike many of the other countries in the Middle East, Jordan does not have much oil or other valuable natural resources. As a result, the economy is one of the weakest in the region. In addition, land and water suitable for farming are very limited in Jordan. Agriculture accounts for less than 5 percent of the country's income. The country has been hurt by high foreign debt and unemployment. Most of the people of Jordan work in services, trade, manufacturing, and mining. The country refines petroleum and mines potash and phosphates, which are used in fertilizers. The other major industries produce chemicals, cement, clothing, and food products. Tourism has become an important source of income. Tourists come mainly from the West to see the old biblical cities of the Jordan River valley. Visitors also come to see the ruins of the ancient city of Petra, in the southwest. Petra's magnificent buildings and tombs were carved out of red sandstone cliffs. HistoryEarly settlers and invaders - A desert palace east of Amman, Jordan, dates from the 8th century.
Jordan has been inhabited for more than 200,000 years. It shares much of its ancient history with Israel, because both countries occupied the area known as Palestine. Jordan's earliest known kingdoms date from the 13th century BC and included Ammon, Moab, and Edom. According to the Bible, the tribes of Israel also began to settle in the Jordan River valley region in about the 13th century BC. The area faced numerous invasions. Control of the region passed in turn to the Assyrians, the Babylonians, and the Persians. The Seleucids began to rule in 198 BC. Under the Seleucids, trade increased and new towns were built. Jordan later prospered as part of the Roman Empire. In the 7th century AD, Arab invaders brought Islam to the area. The region was mostly under Muslim rule for about the next 875 years. In the 16th century, Ottoman Turks captured the region and made it part of the Ottoman Empire. Steps to independenceAfter the Turks were defeated in World War I, the Ottoman Empire was divided up. In 1920 Britain took control of what is now Jordan. The territory was then called Transjordan. In 1923 Transjordan gained the right to govern its internal affairs. The country became fully independent in 1946. The new country was ruled by King Abdullah of the Hashimites, a powerful Arab family descended from Muhammad. In 1949 the name of the state was changed to the Hashimite Kingdom of Jordan. Regional conflictsThe new nation soon became involved in a series of conflicts with its neighbors. In 1948 the country of Israel was created out of part of the region known as Palestine. This region was also claimed by Arabs. Jordan joined other Arab nations in a war against Israel. As part of a peace treaty of 1949, Jordan gained control of the West Bank of the Jordan River and the eastern part of Jerusalem. As a result of the war, a large number of Palestinians were forced to resettle from Palestine to Jordan. In 1951 King Abdullah was murdered. Abdullah's grandson Hussein became king in 1953. In 1967 Jordan fought in another war with Israel. Jordan lost the West Bank and the eastern part of Jerusalem to Israel. The losses increased the number of Palestinians who had to settle in Jordan. In 1970–71 a group called the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) rose in an unsuccessful revolt against the government of King Hussein. PeaceAfter years of bloodshed and a weakened economy, Jordan began moving toward peace and stability in the 1980s. In 1988 Jordan gave up all its claims to the West Bank. In 1994 Jordan signed a peace treaty with Israel. Following the death of King Hussein in 1999, power passed to his son Abdullah. Population (2001 estimate), 5,132,000. |