— Ch. 1 · Paleolithic Echoes And Iron Age Kingdoms —
Jordan.
~9 min read · Ch. 1 of 7
The oldest known evidence of hominid habitation in Jordan dates back at least 200,000 years. Scientists have found the world's oldest known evidence of bread-making at a 14,500-year-old Natufian site in Jordan's northeastern desert. During the Neolithic period between 10,000 and 4,500 BC, 'Ain Ghazal emerged as one of the largest known prehistoric settlements in the Near East. Dozens of plaster statues dating to 7250 BC or earlier were uncovered there. These figures represent some of the oldest large-scale representations of humans ever found. Fortified towns and urban centers first appeared early in the Bronze Age from 3600 to 1200 BC. Wadi Feynan became a regional center for copper extraction during this era. The metal was exploited on a large scale to produce bronze. Trade and movement of people in the Middle East peaked, causing cultural innovations and whole civilizations to spread. Villages in Transjordan expanded rapidly in areas with reliable water resources and arable land. Ancient Egyptian populations expanded towards the Levant and came to control both banks of the Jordan River. During the Iron Age spanning 1200 to 332 BC, three kingdoms developed: Ammon, Moab, and Edom. These peoples spoke Semitic languages of the Canaanite group. Archaeologists have concluded that their polities were tribal kingdoms rather than states. Ammon was located in the Amman plateau while Moab sat in the highlands east of the Dead Sea. Edom occupied the area around Wadi Araba in the south. One record of conflict is the Mesha Stele erected by the Moabite king Mesha in 840 BC. In an inscription on it, he lauds himself for building projects initiated in Moab and commemorates his victory against the Israelites. The stele constitutes one of the most important archaeological parallels to accounts recorded in the Bible.
Nabataean Petra And Roman Annexation
The Nabataeans, nomadic Arabs based south of Edom, managed to establish an independent kingdom in 169 BC. They exploited the struggle between Greek powers following Alexander the Great's death in 323 BC. The Nabataean Kingdom controlled much of the trade routes stretching from Damascus down to the Hejaz desert. Petra flourished as its capital during the first century AD driven by extensive water irrigation systems. The Nabataeans were talented stone carvers who built Al-Khazneh in the first century AD. It is believed to be the mausoleum of King Aretas IV. Roman legions under Pompey conquered much of the Levant in 63 BC inaugurating a period of rule lasting four centuries. Emperor Trajan annexed Nabataea unopposed in 106 AD and rebuilt the King's Highway which became known as the Via Traiana Nova road. The Romans formed the Decapolis, a ten-city league including Philadelphia, Gerasa, Gedara, Pella, and Arbila. Jerash stands today as one of the best preserved Roman cities in the East. Emperor Hadrian visited Jerash during his journey to Palestine. In 324 AD the Roman Empire split and the Eastern Roman Empire continued to control or influence the region until 636. Christianity had become legal within the empire in 313 after co-emperors Constantine and Licinius signed an edict of toleration. Transjordan prospered during the Byzantine era with Christian churches built throughout the region. The Aqaba Church in Ayla was built during this era and is considered the world's first purpose-built Christian church. Umm ar-Rasas in southern Amman contains at least 16 Byzantine churches. Petra's importance declined as sea trade routes emerged and after a 363 earthquake destroyed many structures it eventually being abandoned.