On board lecture for cruise passengers

1. Jordan, Aqaba and Petra
From the Nabataeans to the Hashemite Kingdom
By
Jean Christophe (Chris) Robles

2. Jordan: Facts and Figures
Official name = The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Size = 89,341km2 (35,637 sq. mi.)
Population = 9.8M (est.) / 30% non-citizens
Capital = Amman (4M+)
Borders = Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria, Palestine (West Bank), Israel
Coastline = Dead Sea, Red Sea (Gulf of Aqaba – 26km)
Highest peak = Jabal Umm al Dami (1,854m / 6,083 ft.)
Lowest Point = Dead Sea (- 430m / - 1,411 ft., lowest on earh)
Government = Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy
GDP = $82.9 Bn. (PPP) / 87th in the World
GDP per Capita = $12,162 (PPP) / 86th in the World
Economy = Mining, finance, ICT, manufacturing, pharma, tourism
Currency = Dinar (JOD)
Religion = 92% Muslim, 6% Christians, 2% other (Druze, Baha’i)
Language = Arabic (official), English (business)

3. History of Jordan
Prehistory
o Rich in Palaeolithic remains
o Evidence of human presence dating back 250K
o Several settlements during Neolithic
o One of the largest prehistoric settlements in the Near East, where now is Amman
o Some of the oldest large human statues dating from around 7250BC found there
Ancient history
o Semitic groups move into the area by 2000BC
o Formation of several tribal kingdoms, including Ammon, Edom and Moab,
mentioned in Old Testament
o Kingdoms were in constant conflict with Hebrew kingdoms of Judah and
Israel across the Jordan river
o Stele of Moabite king Mesha dated to 840BC commemorates victory
against Israelites
o Kingdoms survived until Roman rule as vassals to various regional empires

4. History of Jordan
Greek, Roman and Byzantine period
o Much of present day Jordan disputed between Hellenistic Ptolemies and Seleucids
o Nabatean kingdom in the south remains independent from Greeks
o Roman rule of region from 63BC, lasts for several centuries
o Among earliest Christian presence, oldest purpose built church in 300AD in Aqaba
o Controlled by Eastern Roman, later Byzantine, Empire until Muslim conquest
Islamic era
o Among first Islamic conquests during Rashidun Caliphs era
o During Umayyad rule, several desert castles and administrative buildings are built
o Abbasids launch take over campaign against the Umayyad from Transjordan
o After fall of Abbasids, region is under control of Fatimides, then the Crusader
Kingdom of Jerusalem, finally defeated by Saladin, founder of Ayyubid dynasty
o Mamluks take over from Ayyubids and rule until Ottoman conquest

5. History of Jordan
Ottoman Jordan
o Becomes part of Ottoman Empire for 4 centuries, but rule often weak
o Period of stagnation and urban population decline, Bedouins often raid towns
o Short occupation by Wahhabis from Arabia, defeated by Ibrahim Pasha from Egypt
o Immigration of Circassian and Chechen Muslims fleeing Russian persecution
o Construction of Hijaz Railway from Damascus to Medina to transport pilgrims
o Great Arab Revolt with Western help ends Ottoman rule during WWI
Modern Jordan
o Western promises made to Arabs under Sharif Hussein not honoured
o Sykes – Picot Agreement divides region into French and British areas of influence
o Abdullah, son of Hussein, is made Emir of newly formed Transjordan
o Full autonomy is obtained in 1928 and full independence in 1946, with country
gaining sovereignty as Hashemite Kingdom of Transjordan, later shortened to Jordan
o King Abdullah is assassinated in 1951 in Jerusalem, succeeded briefly by his son King
Talal, who abdicates in favour of his son Hussein, who becomes King at 18
o After a long reign, King Hussein dies of cancer in 1999 and is succeeded by his son

6. The Hashemite Dynasty
The Hashemite before Jordan
o Claim ancestry from Hashim ibn Abd Manaf, a member of the
Quraysh tribe and great-grand father of Prophet Muhammad
o Descend more directly from the Prophet’s daughter Fatima and
her cousin Ali, through their son Hassan
o The Hashemite vied unsuccessfully for control of the emerging
Islamic empire with the Umayyad, another clan of the Quraysh
tribe
o The Abbasside, another branch of the Hashemite descended
from Abbas, an uncle of the Prophet, replaces the Umayyad
o Partisans and descendants of Ali and his son Hussein become
Shiites and establish Fatimid Caliphate
o From 10th century onwards, Hashemite are appointed as Sharif
and Emir of Mecca, and often rule the Hejaz as vassals
o The last Emir, Hussein, leads the Great Arab Revolt against the
Ottomans, and after driving them out proclaims himself King of
the Hejaz and controversially assumes the title of Caliph
o Hussein’s son Faisal becomes King of Iraq, while his other son
Abdullah is proclaimed with British support Emir of Transjordan

8. The Hashemite Dynasty
The Jordanian Royal Family
o Following the death from cancer of his much loved and respected father
King Hussein, Crown Prince Abdullah ibn Al Hussein ascended the throne of
the Hashemite Kingdom on 7 February 1999 as King Abdullah II
o Although Jordan is a constitutional monarchy, the king retains wide
executive and legislative powers
o King Abdullah has strived to build on his father’s legacy of working towards
more democratic institutions, political plurality, media liberalization,
interfaith dialogue, regional peace and stability and women’s rights
o During King Abdullah’s reign, Jordan’s economy has seen much growth in
sectors such as ICT, Special Economic Zones, foreign investment, tourism
and trade
o King Abdullah negotiated a Free Trade Agreement with the USA, the first
Arab country to do so
o Regional turmoil and the influx of 1.4 million refugees have severely
impacted economic growth in recent years
o King Abdullah is the custodian of the Muslim and Christian holy sites in
Jerusalem
o The 54 year old monarch, a career officer with a wide range of sporting
interests, a broad education and a global outlook and reach is regarded as
the world’s most influential Muslim
o King Abdullah is married to Rania Al Yassin and has four children

9. The Hashemite Dynasty
The Jordanian Royal Family

10. Tourism in Jordan
o Important contributor to the economy and employment
o 8 million visitors in 2010 from Arab countries and Europe
o Severely affected by regional turmoil, though safe
o Known for numerous archaeological sites, such as Petra
o Part of Holy Land, with Jewish, Christian and Muslim
religious and pilgrimage sites
o Interesting rural area, village life
o Desert adventures in Wadi Rum, hikes, rock climbing
o One of world’s top medical tourism destinations
o Natural spas, hot springs and Dead Sea
o Beach resorts in Aqaba and world class diving
o Lively urban nightlife, great food, friendly people

11. Tourism in Jordan

12. Tourism in Jordan

13. Tourism in Jordan
Welcome to Mars!
WADI RUM

14. Tourism in Jordan Welcome to Mars!WADI RUM

15. Tourism in Jordan
UNESCO listed World
Heritage site
Where Prince Faisal and
Lawrence of Arabia based
their headquarters during
the Great Arab Revolt
Location for many popular
movies
WADI RUM
Welcome to Mars!

16. Tourism in Jordan
Aqaba, Jordan’s access to the sea
 Only merchandise and tourism port, fast growing region as Special Economic Zone
 Popular tourist destination for domestic and foreign tourists; full during festivals
 Gateway to beach resorts, diving sites, Wadi Rum and Nabatean ruins of Petra

17. The Nabateans
Who were the Nabateans?
o Originally, one of several nomadic tribes roaming the Arabian desert,
likely from the Hejaz region (Red Sea coast)
o Became an important regional power from around the 6th century BC,
becoming settled and moving into previously Edomite territory
o Their capital is believed to have been at Petra, where they carved
grandiose buildings, temples and tombs out of sandstone rock
o They were skilled in pottery making and in water engineering
o At times controlling large areas of the Middle East, their wealth and
power came from being at trade crossroads between East and West
o Their society was well organized, a Royal system without slavery and
with shared communal duties
o They worshipped a pantheon of divinities, chief among them the sun
god Dushara and the goddess al-Uzza, but later adopted Christianity
o They largely resisted foreign invasions, mainly from Seleucids or
Judeans, at times paying tribute to fend them off
o Became vassals of the Romans, then a Roman province under Trajan
o As trade routes diverted, their power diminished and by the 5th
century their lands were divided among several other Arab kingdoms

18. Petra, the lost city of stone
o Carved out of stone over 2000 years
ago by the Nabateans
o A UNESCO listed World Heritage Site
o One of the New 7 Wonders of the
World
o Most visited site in Jordan
o According to Smithsonian Magazine,
one of the ‘28 Places to See Before
You Die’
o After long decline, abandoned by the
12th century
o ‘Discovered’ by Swiss explorer
Johann Ludwig Burckhardt in 1812
o Most dramatic access is from the
east through the Siq, a narrow
canyon
o Featured in many books and movies
o Also known as the ‘Rose City’

19. Petra, the lost city of stone

20. Petra, the lost city of stone

21. Petra, the lost city of stone

22. Petra, the lost city of stone

23. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
Happy explorations in Jordan!