Since its inception, Jordan has been surrounded by conquerors and weathered countless conflicts that could have erased it from the map. Yet, this nation stands as one of the most robust in the Middle East, prompting the question: how has Jordan thrived while its neighbors grapple with war and devastation? The primary answer lies in its strategic location. Jordan’s geography, to some extent, presents a paradox; it is simultaneously its greatest vulnerability and its shield.
Jordan features fertile mountainous terrain in the west and desert highlands in the east. However, it grapples with a severe scarcity of water. Jordan is among the world’s driest countries, receiving only 245 millimeters of rainfall annually. A mere 20% of the country receives over 200 millimeters of rain, and only 7% of that land is arable. The growth of urban areas has further diminished arable land. Today, Jordan has limited farming capabilities, insufficient to meet local demand, necessitating food imports from allies like the United States. Moreover, Jordan lacks oil or other valuable resources abundant in other Middle Eastern nations.
Despite bordering Iraq, Syria, and Saudi Arabia, Jordan possesses only one natural gas field, yielding one million cubic meters of gas daily. This suffices for only one power plant, with the rest of its oil and gas imported from other countries. While the scarcity of agriculture and oil has posed challenges, tourism has become a vital economic pillar, drawing millions of visitors worldwide with its rich history and culture.
While Jordan maintains stability, its neighbors do not. Surrounded by Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria, and Israel, regions often plagued by conflict and war, Jordan’s location offers a degree of protection. Its eastern and southern borders are shielded by deserts, formidable to traverse.
Jordan’s northern and western borders are fortified by the Dead Sea, situated approximately 430 meters below sea level and nine times saltier than the ocean, along with the Jordanian mountain range and the Jordan River. Despite its volatile neighbors, limited arable land, and resource scarcity, Jordan has demonstrated remarkable resilience.
Today, Jordan is a beautiful and stable country, though it has not always been so. Jordan’s history is marked by successive invasions and subjugations. Three thousand years ago, the region was part of the independent states of Ammon, Moab, and Edom, later falling under Assyrian rule. Subsequently, it was conquered by Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans. Roman rule transformed the culture, and the Persian Empire reasserted its influence.
The era of Islamic caliphates followed, during which the region faced desolation. Crusaders from Europe established fortresses but soon departed, succeeded by Mamluk rulers. Eventually, the Ottoman Empire seized control, holding it until the 20th century. The Ottoman era witnessed numerous rebellions in Jordan. Following World War I, it became part of the British Empire, and in 1946, it emerged as the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, gaining independence.
Initially, the country faced instability, but through its monarchy and moderate policies, Jordan achieved stability.
