Jordan Culture
Jordan Country & Its People
Located at the crossroads of history, the Middle East is the canvas upon which mankind has left a continuous record of our journey through time and space. The region is one of the world's most densely concentrated realms of cultural, religious, and geographic diversity. Wedged between the Mediterranean and the vast Arabian desert, interspersed with snow-capped mountains, fertile river valleys and ethereal rocky landscapes, the area beckons travelers with its endless attractions. Although generally best appreciated during the spring and autumn, the region's mountains are popular for winter skiing and summer escapes from the baking heat of the plains. The coast can be rainy in the winter, while Syria is marked by bitterly cold, dry winters. In the spring, the area is a glorious riot of wildflowers, with pleasantly warm days, occasionally marked by the khamsin -hot winds that blow in from the Sahara for a few days. Historically, the main cities of the region have developed along the coast, rivers, and the fertile oases that have provided rest and sustenance for travelers over thousands of years.
The region has profited, economically and historically, from its key location: a fertile swathe of land sandwiched between the Mediterranean and the sweeping Arabian desert. Traders have been forced to pass through this narrow strip of civilization, leaving behind a cornucopia of cities and ruins of a time when caravanserais brought silk, spices and gold from east to west.
 All three countries are home to a dizzying array of peoples and religions. Home to Greek, Syrian and Armenian branches of the Eastern Orthodox church, Sunni, Shi'ite, Ismaili and Alawite Muslims, Druze, Armenians, Palestinians, Kurds, Circasssians, and others; the Middle East's present day makeup is the current manifestation of the region's historical diversity. For millennia, the world has passed through the Middle East. Today, the area is once again welcoming visitors with the traditional grace, warmth, charm and generosity for which the Arab world is justly famed. Most visitors go home overwhelmed by the hospitality of the people, pleasantly surprised by this unexpected feature of travel in the area.
From Paleolithic hunter-gatherers 700,000 years ago, to the early civilizations of the Fertile Crescent, to the tumultuous 20th century events that are finally settling into peace, the three countries of Jordan, Syria and Lebanon all have an immense range of historical remains. The Jordan Valley has been cultivated for 10,000 years, with the population gradually making the shift from hunting and gathering to semi-nomadic pastoralism. The Neolithic period, from 6000 - 4500 BC, saw a marked drop in rainfall throughout the region, which encouraged settlement on riversides and coastal areas.
The early Bronze Age, from 3300 - 2250 BC, saw the rise of city-states in Northwest Syria. Trade flourished along the coast, with the Egyptians bringing gold, papyrus, cereals, and more to the area in return for timber. By the 3rd millennium BC, the region was undergoing conflict and turmoil that some might say set the scene for subsequent history, with battles between Semitic desert dwellers and local communities. Empires rise and fell; Egyptians, Hittites and Mittanis ruled over the years. Amidst this chaotic period, alphabets were developed, and the famed Exodus took place, with Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt and to the Promised Land.
It was the Iron Age that saw the rise of some of the city-states that we can explore today : the Phoenician cities of Tyre and others flourished during this period. The Temple of Solomon was constructed, and Phoenician boats plied the Mediterranean, spreading their influence as far as Carthage. Greek influence spread rapidly from the 4th century BC: many of the region's great cities of today rose to prominence under the Hellenistic presence: Aleppo, Damascus, Beirut and others. The Romans controlled the area from 64 BC until the end of the 4th century AD , with the famed Pax Romana allowing a high degree of autonomy for subjects of the loose federation. During this period, great cities and temples were built which are some of the prime attractions for visitors today.
After the Romans, the Middle East saw the rise of Byzantium and Christianity, often practiced in converted pagan temples. Meanwhile, Islam was spreading rapidly from its birthplace in Arabia, and traveling north and west. Damascus became the seat of the Caliphate, and saw the construction of the Umayyad Mosque, one of the main pilgrimage sites in Islam. The Umayyads rose to leadership throughout the region, rapidly transforming from a nomadic band of warriors to a settled community like those already living in the area they now controlled; they adopted manners more akin to Byzantine Emperors and Persian kings.
Along with impressive Greco-Roman sites, the Middle East's monumental history is evident in Crusader castles and medieval towns built in this time of fierce, passionate conflict between Muslims and Christians. From the 11th to 13th century, the region saw intense fighting both between the two groups, and within the highly diverse Muslim peoples, who were riven with internal domestic conflicts. The Mamelukes came to ascendancy in the mid 13th century: this dynasty was a product of the Turkish ruling tradition of relying on slaves to man her armies and administrate her far-flung empire: the slaves (known as mamelukes, from the word mamluk, meaning owned) eventually revolted, and took power themselves. Their three centuries of rule were eventually overthrown by the Ottomans, who incorporated the Middle East into their vast empire. The Ottomans made a policy of protecting of pilgrimage routes through the area to Mecca; this, and their efficient administrative system, land funding of ambitious public buildings and mosques, contributed to the high esteem held by locals for the Ottomans. Trade flourished, and the regions held a high degree of autonomy.
The Ottoman star began to fade in the 18th century, leading to increased European involvement in the area. World War I put the region at the center of the world stage, as the Ottomans aligned themselves with the Central Powers. The Turks, focusing on the war, grew increasingly indifferent to local Arab needs. The famed Arab Revolt was part of the final breakdown of Ottoman rule in the area. After World War I, the Middle East saw dramatic transitions, the ramifications of which are still gnawing away at the region today. The region was carved up between the British and French, with double dealing, broken promises, and conflicts of interest creating a sense of local betrayal and resentment that poisoned the atmosphere for the 20th century. Each of the three countries: Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria, as known today, arose in the past century. The Emirate of Transjordan was declared independent in 1923, Syria and Lebanon became independent in 1946. The second half of the 20th century has seen the region torn asunder with wars with Israel, and civil wars. Today, international efforts to encourage regional reconciliation are finally bearing fruit, bringing a new era of peace and prosperity to one of the world's most fascinating, appealing areas.  |
Population: 4,998,564 (July 2000 est.) 
