History of Jordan Lecture Notes Flashcards

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering the historical development of Jordan from the Stone Ages through the Iron Age, Islamic eras, the Ottoman period, and the Great Arab Revolt.

Palaeolithic

The Old Stone Age, starting from the emergence of humans until approximately $20,000$ BCE, characterized by stone tool manufacturing and a hunting-gathering lifestyle.

Neolithic

The New Stone Age ($8500$ - $4500$ BCE) where humans settled in agricultural villages, domesticated animals, and built permanent housing.

Chalcolithic

The Copper-Stone Age ($4500$ - $3500$ BCE) during which humans began smelting and processing copper ores alongside stone tool use.

Mesha Stele

Also known as the Moabite Stone, it is a black basalt monument dating to $850$ BCE that records the victories and achievements of King Mesha of Moab.

Decapolis

A commercial and military alliance of ten cities established during the Roman era to ensure trade stability and defense against nomadic raids.

Hellenistic Civilization

A period resulting from the blending and interaction of Greek civilization with ancient Eastern civilizations, particularly in the Levant.

Yarmouk Tunnel

The longest tunnel in the world, discovered in northern Jordan in $2012$, which was historically used to supply Decapolis cities with water.

The Baptism Site (Al-Maghtas)

A religious and historical site located north of the Dead Sea where Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Baptist.

Busayra

The strategic capital of the Edomite Kingdom located in southern Jordan (Tafila Governorate).

Al-Humaymah

A village in southern Jordan that served as the secret headquarters and center for the Abbasid Da'wah (movement).

Umayyad Desert Castles

Structures built in the Jordanian Badia by Umayyad caliphs for purposes including recreation, hunting, and communicating with local tribes.

Montreal Castle

Also known as Shoubak Castle, it was built by King Baldwin I in $1115$ CE as a strategic military outpost for the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem.

Mamluks

A military class of various ethnic origins (mostly Turkic) who ruled Egypt and the Levant from $1250$ CE to $1517$ CE after the fall of the Ayyubids.

Timar

The Ottoman feudal system based on granting land to knights or individuals to provide military personnel and revenue for the treasury.

Al-Mab'uthan Council

The Ottoman Parliament where Jordanian representatives participated in political decision-making toward the end of the Ottoman era.

Great Arab Revolt

A movement launched on June $10$, $1916$ CE by Sharif Hussein bin Ali aiming for the independence and unity of Arab lands in Asia.

Sykes-Picot Agreement

A secret $1916$ deal between Britain and France to divide the Arab Mashreq (Levant and Iraq) into spheres of influence.

Balfour Declaration

A statement issued in $1917$ by British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour declaring support for the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine.

Syrian National Congress

An elected assembly representing Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and Transjordan that declared the independence of the Arab Kingdom of Syria in $1920$ CE.

King-Crane Commission

A US-led international commission sent to the Levant in $1919$ to survey the local population's political aspirations regarding independence and mandates.

Local Governments

Administrative bodies formed in Jordan (Irbid, Salt, and Karak) between $1920$ and $1921$ CE following the fall of the Arab Kingdom of Syria and before the arrival of Prince Abdullah.

Al-Hiyyah (Karak Uprising)

An uprising by the people of Karak in $1910$ against Ottoman administrative measures such as forced conscription and high taxes.

Iron Age

The period ($1200$ - $332$ BCE) during which organized kingdoms like Ammon, Moab, and Edom emerged in Jordan.

Petra

The rose-red capital of the Nabataean Kingdom, carved into rock and designated as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in $2007$.

Battle of Mu'tah

The first military confrontation between Muslim forces and the Byzantine Empire in $8$ AH ($629$ CE) on Jordanian soil.