1st Edition

Between Arabia and the Holy Land Jordan throughout the Ages

By Jacob Abadi Copyright 2024

    This volume is a general survey of the history of Jordan from ancient times to the present.

    The author covers the major events that took place in this region since ancient times. Starting with the history of the region in Biblical times, the author discusses the major developments in the ancient kingdoms of Edom, Moab, and Amon, which shared common borders with the Hebrew kingdoms. He then provides a detailed coverage of the events that took place during the Nabatean period.

    The author demonstrates how the character of this region had changed with the rise of Islam and the expansion of the Arabs and their encounter with the Byzantines. In addition, the author demonstrates how the rise of the Mamluk Sultanate affected the region. The author provides a detailed analysis explaining how the Hashemite Kingdom Jordan emerged and how the Ottomans and the British contributed to its rise. In addition to the political developments that took place in this region, the reader will become familiar with the economic, social, and cultural developments which contributed to the emergence of the modern Hashemite Kingdom. The book’s audience includes college undergraduates, graduates, postgraduates, scholars, as well as lay readers with interest in this strategically important region.

    The book is based on primary and secondary sources written in several languages.

    Introduction. 1. Jordan in antiquity 2. Jordan under Byzantine and Arab rule 3. Political history of Jordan under Mamluk rule 4. Administrative, social, economic and cultural developments in Jordan during the Mamluk period 5. Jordan in the Ottoman age 6. Jordan during World War I 7. Minorities, Bedouin tribes and the challenge of integration 8. The formative years of the Hashemite Kingdom 9. World War II and the Hashemite quest for national identity 10. King Hussein’s challenges 11. Jordan, the West Bank and Jewish settlement plans 12. Jordan and its Muslim neighbors 13. Jordan’s global reach 14. The reign of King Abdallah II 15. Vernacular and culture in modern Jordan.

    Biography

    Dr Jacob Abadi taught at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado from 1994 to 2023. In addition to numerous articles, he is the author of the following books: Britain’s Withdrawal from the Middle East, 1947-1971; Israel’s Leadership; Israel’s Quest for Recognition and Acceptance in Asia; and Tunisia since the Arab Conquest.