Amman

Amman is the capital and the largest city of Jordan, and the country's economic, political, and cultural center. With a population of five million as of 2024, Amman is Jordan's primate city and is the largest city in the Levant region, the seventh-largest city in the Arab world, and the eighth-largest metropolitan area in the Middle East.

Amman is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The earliest evidence of settlement in Amman dates to the 8th millennium BC in 'Ain Ghazal, home to the world's oldest statues of the human form. Throughout history, the city has been known by different names and has been part of various empires and cultures.

Today, Amman is a modern city with a mix of historic and contemporary areas. It has a growing economy and is a popular place for businesses and visitors. The city has a bus network, including a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system that serves the city and connects it to neighboring Zarqa.

Etymology

Amman’s name comes from the ancient Ammonites people, who made it their capital around the 13th century BC. They called the city Rabat ʿAmmān, meaning “Capital” or “King’s Quarters.” Later, the ruler Ptolemy II renamed it Philadelphia after himself. Eventually, during the Islamic era, the city’s original name, Amman, was restored.

The city has been known by many names throughout history, reflecting its long and rich past.

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 lies in the outskirts of Amman. At its height, around 7000 BC, it had an area of 15 hectares and was inhabited by about 3000 people. At that time, the site was a typical village. Its houses were rectangular mud-bricked buildings that included a main square living room.

ʿAin Ghazal is well known for a set of small human statues found in 1983. These statues are human figures made with white plaster, with painted eyes. Thirty-two figures were found in two caches, fifteen of them full figures, fifteen busts, and two fragmentary heads.

Iron Age: the Ammonites

Main article: Ammon

In the 13th century BC, Amman was the capital of the Ammonite Kingdom, and became known as "Rabat Amman". Rabat Amman provided several natural resources to the region, including sandstone and limestone, along with a productive agricultural sector that made it a vital location along the King's Highway, the ancient trade route connecting Egypt with Mesopotamia, Syria and Anatolia.

Amman is mentioned several times in the Hebrew Bible. According to the biblical narrative, the Ammonite king Hanun allied with Hadadezer, king of Aram-Zobah, against the United Kingdom of Israel. During the war, Joab, the captain of King David's army, laid siege to Rabbah, Hanun's royal capital, and destroyed it.

Several Ammonite ruins across Amman exist, such as Rujm Al-Malfouf and some parts of the Amman Citadel. The city was later conquered by the Assyrians, followed by the Babylonians and the Achaemenid Persians.

Classical and late antiquity

Main article: Philadelphia (Amman)

Hellenistic period

Conquest of the Near East by Alexander the Great firmly consolidated the influence of Hellenistic culture, marking the start of the Hellenistic period. The Greeks founded new cities in the area of modern-day Jordan, including Gadara (Umm Qays), Gerasa (Jerash), Pella and Philadelphia (Amman). Ptolemy II nicknamed Philadelphus, established at the site of Amman what was initially a military colony, which then developed into a full-blown Greek-type city. Ptolemy II named it Philadelphia, evoking "brotherly love" in Greek.

Roman period

The Romans conquered much of the Levant in 63 BC, inaugurating a period of imperial rule that lasted for four centuries. In the northern parts of modern-day Jordan, the Greek cities of Philadelphia, Gerasa, Gedara, Pella and Arbila joined with other cities to form the Decapolis League, a confederation based on common economic and cultural interests. Philadelphia became a point along a road stretching from Ailah to Damascus that was built by Emperor Trajan in AD 106. This provided an economic boost for the city.

There are traces of Roman construction all across Jordan. In Amman the most conspicuous structures include the Great Temple at the Amman Citadel, the Roman Theatre, the Odeon, and the Nymphaeum. The two theaters and the nymphaeum fountain were built during the reign of Emperor Antoninus Pius around AD 161. The theatre was the larger venue of the two and had a capacity for 6,000 attendees.

Byzantine period

During the late Byzantine period in the seventh century, several bishops were based in the city; a number of church sites from the Byzantine period have been discovered there.

Early Muslim period (7th–11th century)

See also: Desert castles

In the 630s, the Rashidun Caliphate conquered the region from the Byzantines, beginning the Islamic era in the Levant. Philadelphia was renamed "Amman" by the Muslims and became part of the district of Jund Dimashq. A large part of the population already spoke Arabic, which facilitated integration into the caliphate. Under the Umayyad caliphs, numerous desert castles were established as a means to govern the desert area of modern-day Jordan.

Amman was later destroyed by several earthquakes and natural disasters. The Umayyads were overthrown by the Abbasids three years later.

Crusaders and Ayyubids (12th–13th century)

The occupation of the Citadel Hill by the Kingdom of Jerusalem is based on interpretations of Crusader sources. By 1170, Amman was in Ayyubid hands.

Mamluk period (13th–early 16th century)

During the Mamluk era, the region of Amman was a part of Wilayat Balqa, the southernmost district of Mamlakat Dimashq (Damascus Province). In 1321, the geographer Abu'l Fida, recorded that Amman was "a very ancient town" with fertile soil and surrounded by agricultural fields. In 1356, the capital of Balqa was transferred from Hisban to Amman.

Modern era (1878–present)

Late Ottoman period (1878–1917)

Amman began to be resettled in 1878, when several hundred Muslim Circassians arrived following their expulsion from the North Caucasus by the Russian Empire. Between 1878 and 1910, tens of thousands of Circassians became refugees in the Ottoman Empire, which had moved large numbers of them into its province of Syria. The Ottoman authorities directed the Circassians to settle in Amman.

Until 1900 settlement was concentrated in the valley and slopes of the Amman stream. The city's demographics changed dramatically after the Ottoman government's decision to construct the Hejaz Railway, which linked Damascus and Medina, and facilitated the annual Hajj pilgrimage and trade. Operational in central Transjordan since 1903, the Hejaz Railway helped to transform Amman from a small village into a major commercial hub in the region.

British Mandate; Emirate of Transjordan (1921–1946)

In 1921, the Hashemite emir and later king Abdullah I designated Amman instead of al-Salt to be the capital of the newly created state, the Emirate of Transjordan, which became the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in 1950.

Post-independence (1946–present)

Jordan gained its independence in 1946 and Amman was designated the country's capital. Amman received many refugees during wartime events in nearby countries, beginning with the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. A second wave arrived after the Six-Day War in 1967. In 1970, Amman was a battlefield during the conflict between the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Jordanian Army.

In 2005, coordinated explosions in three hotel lobbies in Amman resulted in many deaths and injuries, causing widespread outrage among Jordanians. Jordan's security as a whole was dramatically improved after the attack. Most recently a wave of Syrian refugees have arrived in the city during the ongoing Syrian Civil War which began in 2011. Amman was a principal destination for refugees for the security and prosperity it offered.

During the 2010s, the city has experienced an economic, cultural and urban boom. The large growth in population has significantly increased the need for new accommodation, and new districts of the city were established at a quick pace.

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 can be found 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 managed by a 41-member city council that is elected every four years. All Jordanian citizens older than 18 can vote in these elections, but the mayor is chosen by the king instead of being elected. In 1909, a city council was created in Amman by Circassian Ismael Babouk, who became the city's first mayor, and in 1914, Amman's first city district center was established.

The Greater Amman Municipality works to improve the city through various projects. For example, the Green Amman 2020 program started in 2014 with the goal of making the city a green metropolis by 2020. In 2015, free Wi-Fi services were launched at 15 locations, such as Wakalat Street, Rainbow Street, The Hashemite Plaza, Ashrafieh Cultural Complex, and Al Hussein Public Parks.

Jordan is divided into twelve areas called governorates. The Amman Governorate is split into nine districts, some of which have smaller areas within them. The Greater Amman Municipality oversees 22 areas that are divided into neighborhoods.

Economy

Amman plays a big role in Jordan's economy, especially in banking. Even when other parts of the Arab world faced trouble after the Arab Spring uprisings, 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 top 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, the capital of Jordan, is a bustling city with a rich history of growth. In 2015, its population was about 4 million people, which is around 42% of Jordan’s total population. The city’s area spans 1,680 km², making it quite crowded with roughly 2,380 people living in each square kilometer.

Over the years, Amman has grown quickly because of many people moving there. It started with just around 1,000 people in 1890 and swelled to about 1 million by 1990. Many different groups, like Circassians, Palestinians, and people from various parts of Jordan, have settled in Amman. Today, most people in Amman are either of Palestinian or Jordanian descent, with smaller groups making up about 2% of the population. The city became especially busy after events like the 1948 war and the 1967 War, when many refugees came to live there.

Religion

Amman is mainly home to Sunni Muslim people, and the city has many mosques, such as the large King Abdullah I Mosque. There is also a small Druze community and many Christians living in the city. The area around Amman includes historic sites like Umm ar-Rasas, which has ancient Roman ruins and beautiful mosaic floors.

Cityscape

Downtown Amman, known as Al-Balad, is the city center, but it is now much smaller than the large urban area around it. Still, it keeps much of its old charm. Jabal Amman is a popular spot for visitors, with the city’s biggest markets, museums, old buildings, and cultural places. It also has Rainbow Street and the Souk Jara market.

Buildings in Amman usually have four floors above ground and maybe four below, following rules set by the Greater Amman Municipality. They are often covered 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, a large commercial and residential project still being built. The New Abdali district includes a mall, a boulevard, and many hotels and towers. It is a major business area for the city. The first part of this district opened in 2023 and has seven tall buildings covering over a million square meters. A second part is planned for 2024, which will add more space for conferences, hotels, homes, shops, and medical centers.

Culture

Museums

See also: Category:Museums in Amman

The largest museum in Jordan is The Jordan Museum. It holds important ancient treasures, such as parts of the Dead Sea Scrolls and stone statues from 'Ain Ghazal. Other museums in Amman include 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 known for being modern and open-minded. Many people from around the world live, study, or work in the city. You can find many kinds of food, from traditional shawarma and falafel to restaurants serving foods from Asia, France, and Italy. The city has many big shopping malls, such as the Mecca Mall and City Mall. Wakalat Street is a popular shopping area for clothes, and Sweifieh is a main spot for shopping.

Cuisine

See also: Jordanian cuisine

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

Sports

Amman has exciting 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, such as heavy metal, jazz, and rap.

Events

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

Transportation

Airports

The main airport serving Amman is Queen Alia International Airport, located about 30 km south of the city. It is the major international airport in Jordan and serves as the hub for Royal Jordanian, the country's flag carrier. The airport has been recently expanded with new terminals to handle over 16 million passengers each year.

Roads

Amman has an extensive road network with many bridges and tunnels due to the mountainous terrain. One famous landmark is the Abdoun Bridge, which connects different parts of the city. A ring road was built to help reduce traffic jams, especially during busy tourist seasons.

Bus and taxi

Buses and taxis are common ways to travel around Amman. The city has bus routes and service taxis that are affordable and easy to find. The Amman Bus Rapid Transit system has two main routes that help move people quickly through the city. Passengers can buy tickets using a mobile app or rechargeable cards. The buses are air-conditioned, have security cameras, and offer free internet.

Education

See also: List of universities in Jordan

Amman is an important place for learning, with many schools and universities. The city has 20 universities, including the University of Jordan, the largest public university. There are also 448 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, showing its strong connections. Some of these cities include:

• 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)