Jordan History

Middle East Jordan

Political and Administrative History
Anciently much of the area of Jordan was known to us as Gilead, Ammon, and Moab, ruled successively by Solomon, the Assyrians, Babylon, Persia and the Romans. The capitol city of Amman was called Rabbah, and in New Testament times Philadelphia. The modern name harks back to the original territory of Ammon, son-in-law of Lot who’s lands were divided from Abraham.

A series of Arab Sultans ruled the area in the middle ages, finally coming under Ottoman control in the 1600s, where it remained until after World War I.  The United Kingdom was awarded the mandate of Palestine and Transjordan in 1921. They divided the mandate in 1922 and established the emirate of Transjordan with the Hashemite Prince Abdullah as ruler. Independence from Great Britain was obtained in 1946 and the official name became the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. In 1953 Abdullah’s son Hussein became king and skillfully ruled the kingdom until his death in 1999. His son Hussein II is currently in power.

Religious History
Religious conflict over the centuries has helped define many institutions in the middle east. Although the Sunni Muslim religion dominates, other religions are tolerated.