Amman

Amman is the capital and largest city of Jordan. It is the country’s main center for business, government, and culture. Amman has five million people and is the biggest city in the Levant area. It is also the seventh-largest city in the Arab world.

Amman is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. People have lived there since the 8th millennium BC, in a place called 'Ain Ghazal.

Today, Amman is a modern city. It has both old and new parts. The city has a growing economy and is a popular place for businesses and visitors. Amman has buses to help people get around, including a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system that serves the city and connects it to nearby Zarqa.

Etymology

Amman’s name comes from the ancient Ammonites people. They made it their capital around the 13th century BC and called it Rabat ʿAmmān, meaning “Capital” or “King’s Quarters.” Later, a ruler named Ptolemy II changed the name to Philadelphia after himself. During the Islamic era, the city’s original name, Amman, was brought back.

The city has been known by many names, showing its long and rich history.

Main articles: Ammonites, Hebrew Bible, Ptolemy II Philadelphus, Ptolemaic Kingdom, Philadelphia, Ancient Greek, brotherly love, Rashidun Caliphate

History

See also: Timeline of Amman

Neolithic period

Main article: Ayn Ghazal (archaeological site)

The Neolithic site of ʿAin Ghazal is on the edge of Amman. Around 7000 BC, it was a village of about 3000 people. Their homes were made of mud bricks and had a main room.

ʿAin Ghazal is famous for small human statues found in 1983. These statues were made of white plaster and had painted eyes. Thirty-two figures were found.

Iron Age: the Ammonites

Main article: Ammon

In the 13th century BC, Amman was the capital of the Ammonite Kingdom, called "Rabat Amman". It had sandstone and limestone and was important for farming. It lay on the King's Highway, an old trade route from Egypt to Mesopotamia, Syria and Anatolia.

The city is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. Amman was later taken over by the Assyrians, the Babylonians and the Achaemenid Persians.

Classical and late antiquity

Main article: Philadelphia (Amman)

Hellenistic period

When Alexander the Great took over the Near East, Greek culture spread widely. The Greeks built new cities, including Philadelphia (Amman). Ptolemy II made Amman a Greek-style city and called it Philadelphia.

Roman period

The Romans ruled the area in 63 BC for four hundred years. Amman joined other cities in the Decapolis League. Philadelphia was on a road built by Emperor Trajan in AD 106, which helped the city's economy.

Roman buildings in Amman include the Great Temple at the Amman Citadel, the Roman Theatre, the Odeon, and the Nymphaeum. The two theaters and the nymphaeum were built around AD 161.

Byzantine period

In the seventh century, bishops lived in the city and several churches from the Byzantine period have been found.

Early Muslim period (7th–11th century)

See also: Desert castles

In the 630s, the Rashidun Caliphate took over from the Byzantines. The city was renamed "Amman" and became part of Jund Dimashq. Many people already spoke Arabic. Under the Umayyads, desert castles were built to help control the desert.

Amman was damaged by earthquakes. The Umayyads were later replaced by the Abbasids.

Crusaders and Ayyubids (12th–13th century)

The Kingdom of Jerusalem may have held the Citadel Hill. By 1170, Amman was under Ayyubid control.

Mamluk period (13th–early 16th century)

During the Mamluk time, Amman was part of Wilayat Balqa. In 1321, a traveler named Abu'l Fida described Amman as an old town with good soil. In 1356, the capital was moved to Amman from Hisban.

Modern era (1878–present)

Late Ottoman period (1878–1917)

Amman began to grow again in 1878 when Muslim Circassians arrived after leaving the North Caucasus. The Ottoman Empire settled them in Amman.

The Hejaz Railway was built to connect Damascus and Medina for trade and the Hajj pilgrimage. It helped Amman become a busy commercial center.

British Mandate; Emirate of Transjordan (1921–1946)

In 1921, Abdullah I chose Amman to be the capital of the new Emirate of Transjordan, which later became the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in 1950.

Post-independence (1946–present)

Jordan became independent in 1946 and Amman was its capital. The city grew as refugees arrived, first after the 1948 Arab–Israeli War and again after the Six-Day War in 1967.

In 2005, a tragic attack happened in the city. Since then, Jordan has worked to keep the country safe.

In recent years, Amman has grown quickly, with new neighborhoods and many changes.

Geography

Amman is located on the East Bank Plateau, an upland with three major wadis running through it. The city was originally built on seven hills and is surrounded by mountains. Important areas in Amman are often named after these hills or mountains. Nearby cities include Al-Salt to the northwest, al-Zarqa to the northeast, Madaba to the west, and al-Karak and Ma'an to the southwest and southeast, respectively. Trees such as Aleppo pine, Mediterranean cypress, and Phoenician juniper grow in the area.

Amman has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate in its western and northern parts, while the eastern and southern areas have a semi-arid climate. Summers are mildly warm with occasional heatwaves, and springs are brief but warm. Winters begin around late November and can bring temperatures around 17 °C (63 °F), with occasional snowfall. The city receives about 385 mm (15 in) of rain each year, mostly from November to April, and experiences heavy fog around 120 days a year. Differences in elevation create varied weather patterns across the city, leading to interesting microclimates.

Local government

See also: List of mayors of Amman

Amman is run by a city council with 41 members. They are elected every four years. People in Jordan who are older than 18 can vote, but the mayor is chosen by the king. In 1909, a city council was created by Circassian Ismael Babouk, who became the first mayor. In 1914, Amman's first city district center was set up.

The Greater Amman Municipality works on projects to improve the city. For example, the Green Amman 2020 program began in 2014 to make the city greener. In 2015, free Wi-Fi was started at 15 places, such as Wakalat Street, Rainbow Street, The Hashemite Plaza, Ashrafieh Cultural Complex, and Al Hussein Public Parks.

Jordan has twelve areas called governorates. The Amman Governorate has nine districts, and some of these districts have smaller areas. The Greater Amman Municipality looks after 22 areas that are split into neighborhoods.

Economy

Amman is very important for Jordan's economy, especially for banking. Even when some parts of the Arab world had trouble after the Arab Spring, Jordan's banking kept growing. Amman is home to the big international bank called Arab Bank, which has branches all over the world.

Tourism is also important to Amman. Many people visit the city each year, and it is a popular spot for medical tourism in the Middle East. The city is growing fast with new buildings and projects. Big companies and airlines, like Royal Jordanian, have their offices in Amman, making it a key business center in the region.

Demographics

Amman is the capital of Jordan. It is a busy city with a long history. In 2015, about 4 million people lived there. That is around 42% of all the people in Jordan. The city covers 1,680 km². This makes it crowded, with about 2,380 people living in each square kilometer.

Amman has grown fast over the years because many people moved there. It started with only about 1,000 people in 1890 and grew to about 1 million by 1990. Many different groups live in Amman, like Circassians, Palestinians, and people from all over Jordan. Today, most people in Amman are either Palestinian or Jordanian. Smaller groups make up about 2% of the population. The city became very busy after events like the 1948 war and the 1967 War, when many refugees came to live there.

Religion

Most people in Amman are Sunni Muslim. The city has many mosques, including the large King Abdullah I Mosque. There is also a small Druze community and many Christians. Near Amman, you can find historic sites like Umm ar-Rasas. This place has beautiful old Roman ruins and colorful mosaic floors.

Cityscape

Downtown Amman, called Al-Balad, is the old city center. It is smaller than the big area around it, but it still has a lot of old charm. Jabal Amman is a favorite place for visitors. You can find the city’s biggest markets, museums, old buildings, and cultural spots there. It also has Rainbow Street and the Souk Jara market.

Buildings in Amman usually have four floors above ground and maybe four below. They follow rules from the Greater Amman Municipality. The buildings are often made with light-colored stone and have balconies on each floor. Some roofs are made with special tiles called Mangalore tiles. Hotels and tall buildings are covered with stone, plastic, or glass.

The Zahran district in west Amman is home to the Jordan Gate. This is a big project with shops and homes that is still being built. The New Abdali district has a mall, a boulevard, and many hotels and tall buildings. It is an important business area. The first part of this district opened in 2023 and has seven tall buildings. A second part will open in 2024 with more space for meetings, hotels, homes, shops, and medical centers.

Culture

Museums

See also: Category:Museums in Amman

The biggest museum in Jordan is The Jordan Museum. It has important old treasures, like parts of the Dead Sea Scrolls and stone statues from 'Ain Ghazal. Other museums in Amman are the Duke's Diwan, Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, The Children's Museum Jordan, and the Amman Signs Museum, among others.

Lifestyle

Amman is a modern and open city. Many people from different countries live, study, or work there. You can find many types of food, from traditional shawarma and falafel to foods from Asia, France, and Italy. The city has big shopping malls, like the Mecca Mall and City Mall. Wakalat Street is a popular place for buying clothes, and Sweifieh is a main shopping area.

Cuisine

See also: Jordanian cuisine

Amman’s food comes from nearby places, mixing flavors from Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, and Iraq. The city’s street food makes its cuisine special.

Sports

Amman has fun sports! Two famous local football teams, Al-Wehdat and Al-Faisaly, are popular rivals. Amman has hosted big international sports events, like the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. You can also find sports such as skateboarding and rugby in the city.

Media and music

Most of Jordan’s radio stations and newspapers are in Amman. The city has many music events, with bands playing different kinds of music.

Events

Amman holds many fun events, like the Amman Marathon and music festivals. These events happen in beautiful old theaters and modern venues across the city.

Transportation

Airports

The main airport for Amman is Queen Alia International Airport, about 30 km south of the city. It is Jordan's biggest international airport and the hub for Royal Jordanian, the country's flag carrier. The airport has new terminals to welcome many travelers each year.

Roads

Amman has many roads, bridges, and tunnels because of the hilly land. A well-known spot is the Abdoun Bridge, linking parts of the city. A ring road was made to lessen traffic, especially when many tourists visit.

Bus and taxi

Buses and taxis are popular ways to get around Amman. The city has bus routes and service taxis that are cheap and easy to find. The Amman Bus Rapid Transit has two main routes to help people travel fast. Riders can buy tickets with a phone app or special cards. The buses have air-conditioning, security cameras, and offer free internet.

Education

See also: List of universities in Jordan

Amman is an important place for learning. The city has many schools and universities. There are 20 universities, including the University of Jordan, the largest public university. There are also many private schools, such as Jubilee School, Amman Baccalaureate School, Amman National School, Modern American School, American Community School in Amman, and National Orthodox School.

Some of the universities in Amman are Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Al-Isra University, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman Arab University, Applied Science University, Arab Academy for Banking and Financial Sciences, Arab Open University, Columbia University: Amman Branch, German-Jordanian University: Amman Branch, Jordan Academy for Maritime Studies, Jordan Academy of Music, Jordan Institute of Banking Studies, Jordan Media Institute, Middle East University, University of Petra, Philadelphia University, Princess Sumaya University for Technology, Queen Noor Civil Aviation Technical College, and World Islamic Sciences and Education University.

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Jordan

Amman is twinned with many cities around the world. This shows its strong connections. Some of these cities are:

• Muscat, Oman (1986)
• Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (1988)
• Cairo, Egypt (1988)
• Rabat, Morocco (1988)
• Sanaa, Yemen (1989)
• Islamabad, Pakistan (1989)
• Ankara, Turkey (1992)
• Khartoum, Sudan (1993)
• Doha, Qatar (1995)
• Istanbul, Turkey (1997)
• Algiers, Algeria (1998)
• Bucharest, Romania (1999)
• Nouakchott, Mauritania (1999)
• Tunis, Tunisia (1999)
• Sofia, Bulgaria (2000)
• Beirut, Lebanon (2000)
• Pretoria, South Africa (2002)
• Tegucigalpa, Honduras (2002)
• Chicago, United States (2004)
• Calabria, Italy (2005)
• Moscow, Russia (2005)
• Astana, Kazakhstan (2005)
• Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina (2006)
• Central Governorate, Bahrain (2006)
• Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (2006)
• San Francisco, United States (2010)
• Sylhet, Bangladesh
• Singapore, Singapore (2014)
• Yerevan, Armenia (2015)
• Cincinnati, United States (2015)