Kelly Mitchell and Zoha Ahmad

AC-101 Cultural Project [Jordan]

11.29.16

FORMAL REPORT
History
Before 1918: Jordan was part of the Ottoman Empire
1921: Fall of the Ottoman Empire; establishment of Jordan as a British
protectorate
1946: Gained independence from Britain
1967: Lost the West Bank to Israel in the Six-Day War
Current-Day Geography

Jordan is bordered on the west by Israel and the Dead Sea, the north
by Syria, the east by Iraq, and the south by Saudi Arabia.
Most of the country consists of arid hills and mountains of the terrain
Three main physiographic regions of Jordan include: the desert-mostly
Syrian Desert, the uplands east of the Jordan River, and the Jordan
Valley.
The country is made up of a total 0f 12 states.
Government and Politics

The capital and the biggest city of Jordan is Amman.

The government is a constitutional monarchy with a King and a Prime
Minister.
The current king is King Abdullah II, and the Queen is Queen Rania.
Jordan is considered one of the safest, inclusive, and progressive
Arab countries.
Policies are open to refugees and immigrants from Palestine and
Syria
Jordan consists of 2.1 million Palestinian immigrants and 1.4 Syrian
refugees live in Jordan
Every year, Jordan hosts the Annual World Interfaith Harmony Week
for religious leaders to promote religious freedom, tolerance, peace
and understanding.
The government focuses on the empowerment of women with roles in
leadership and politics.

Population and Demographics

The official language of Jordan is modern standard Arabic.

The most common dialect of the country is Jordian Arabic.
The population of the country is 9.5 million.
The unofficial language is English.
92% of population of Jordan is Muslim.
The rest of the country is 6% Christian, making it a well-integrated
community with social and political religious freedom.

Family Traditions

The mother is the primary caregiver for the children during her life
After the birth of first son, mother and father take the name of the
child

Kelly Mitchell and Zoha Ahmad

AC-101 Cultural Project [Jordan]

11.29.16

Father becomes Abu and the name of the son and mother becomes
Om and the name of the son.
The average size of the Jordanian family is six members.
Unmarried sons and daughters remain living with the family until
married.
Primary education begins at 6 and ends at 16
All students take the Tawjeheigh after secondary school before
moving on to higher education
Women challenge social taboos with positions in government and
social structure as ambassadors, ministers and senators

Family Traditions: Weddings

Getting married and having children are top priorities in Jordanian

culture.
Marriage is usually arranged by the father of the bride
The couple barely know each other until engagement is announced to
the public.
Wedding has two parts which include the engagement party and the
actual wedding
The couple signs papers at the engagement party to legally marry
them, and if decide to not go through with the wedding they must get
a divorce.
After marriage, every aspect of womans life is dictated by the man
Divorce is legal but if divorced the father gets custody of the children
and wife becomes an outcast to the community.
Polygamy is also very common.

Art and Tourism

Local women are involved in art and trade through Jordanian

programs for the advancement of women
Common art includes Bedouin jewelry, weaving, ceramics, glass, and
mosaics
Tourists and locals buy art at frequent exhibitions held throughout the
country
Queen Rania of Jordan said, Empower women, empower all of
society.

Sights and Tourism

Tourists enjoy visits to Jordan for beautiful sights, cuisine, art, and

culture
One of the most visited sites is Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
and archeological city that dates as that dates as early as 312 BC.
Other sights of interest are the Dead Sea, the King Abdullah I
Mosque, and Aqaba.
Cuisine

Kelly Mitchell and Zoha Ahmad

AC-101 Cultural Project [Jordan]

11.29.16

Jordanian meals are a time for both immediate and extended family
Jordanian meals consist of an appetizer named Mezze, a main course,
and a dessert.
Mezze typically consists of falafel, salad, hummus, and dried fruits
Main courses include mansaf, zab, and kofta.
Desserts include baklava, Knafeh, Harisa, Halawa
References
1. http://www.infoplease.com/country/jordan.html
2. https://www.britannica.com/place/Jordan
3. http://www.jordanembassyus.org/page/culture-and-religion
4. http://www.everyculture.com/Ja-Ma/Jordan.html
5. http://www.nytimes.com/times-journeys/travel/the-women-of-jordan/