CULTURE AND CUSTOMS OF JORDAN Jordan. Cartography by Bookcomp, Inc. CULTURE AND CUSTOMS OF JORDAN John A. Shoup Culture and Customs of the Middle East Greenwood Press Westport, Connecticut • London Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Shoup, John A. Culture and customs of Jordan / John A. Shoup. p. cm. — (Culture and customs of the Middle East, ISSN 1550–1310) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0–313–33671–7 (alk. paper) 1. Ethnology—Jordan. 2. Jordan—Social life and customs. I. Title. GN635.J6S56 2006 306.095695—dc22 2006029541 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available. Copyright © 2007 by John A. Shoup All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, by any process or technique, without the express written consent of the publisher. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2006029541 ISBN-10: 0–313–33671–7 ISBN-13: 978–0–313–33671–3 ISSN: 1550–1310 First published in 2007 Greenwood Press, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881 An imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc. www.greenwood.com Printed in the United States of America The paper used in this book complies with the Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National Information Standards Organization (Z39.48–1984). 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Contents Series Foreword vii Acknowledgments ix Preface xi Chronology xiii 1. Land, People, and History of Jordan 1 2. Religion and World View 29 3. Literature and Media 45 4. Architecture, Art, and Traditional Crafts 55 5. Traditional Cuisine and Costume 71 6. Gender, Marriage, and Family 87 7. Social Customs and Lifestyle 99 8. Music and Dance 109 Glossary 117 Bibliography 125 Index 129 Series Foreword At last! Culture and Customs of the Middle East fi lls a deep void in reference literature by providing substantial individual volumes on crucial countries in the explosive region. The series is available at a critical juncture, with, among other events, the recent war on Iraq, the continued wrangling by U.S. interests for control of regional oil resources, the quest for Palestinian inde- pendence, and the spread of religious fundamentalist violence and repression. The authoritative, objective, and engaging cultural overviews complement and balance the volley of news bites. As with the other Culture and Customs series, the narrative focus is on contemporary culture and life, in a historical context. Each volume is written for students and general readers by a country expert. Contents include: Chronology Context, including land, people, and brief historical overview Religion and world view Literature Media Cinema Art and architecture/housing Cuisine and dress Gender, marriage, and family Social customs and lifestyle Music and dance viii Series Foreword Glossary Bibliography Index Photos and country map Acknowledgments Any work such as this always includes a large number of people who have helped one way or another. I would like to begin by thanking the Bedouin families who allowed me to live with them and to come back numerous times. I would like to especially express my gratitude to Muhammad Abu Shahir al-Faqir, his wife, ‘Allal Umm Shahir, and their whole family for tak- ing me in and making me one of them. I would also like to make special mention of Dakhl Allah Qublan and family, ‘Ali Mutlaq and family, and Musa Huwaymil and family. I would also like to thank Elias Muqhar and his wife, Kay, Muhammad Fath Allah al-Bukhari and family, ‘Abd al-Muhsin and Khalid Dughaythir for not only their help in the fi eld but also for their generosity and willingness to share with me their knowledge of the region, its history, and culture. I would like to express my thanks to Dr. Philip Ham- mond who introduced me to the Bedouin in southern Jordan and for his constant encouragement. I want to thank Dr. Michael Fuller and his wife, Neathery Batsell Fuller, who allowed to assist in the ethnoarcheological work at ‘Ayn Quwaylbah (Abilah), which gave me the chance to spend time in villages in northern Jordan. It would be remiss if I didn’t express my thanks to Dr. Rebecca Torstrick who recommended my name to Greenwood Press. I want to mention both Wendi Schnaufer and Kaitlin Ciarmiello of Greenwood who have been such good working partners, though all via email. Finally, I want to thank my parents who have always encouraged all of us to do what we want to even if others thought I should get a “real” job. Preface Most people in Europe and North America are not very familiar with Jordan, a small country located between its larger, better known neighbors Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Israel/Palestine, and Saudi Arabia. If they do know something about it, it is often because of T. E. Lawrence, Lawrence of Arabia, whose exploits with the Bedouin during World War I have helped perpetuate the romantic images of robed Bedouin riding camels and dramatic desert land- scapes. Others may be aware of Jordan because it has been a frontline Arab state in the long struggle between the Palestinians and Israelis. Still others may be aware of the country because it is mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments. In reality Jordan is all of these images; it is where a number of important battles did take place between the Bedouin forces of the Arab Revolt led by Lawrence as well as their tribal shaykhs and the Turks during World War I; it is one of the major frontline states with Israel starting even before Israel declared itself a state in 1948; and it does contain a large number of sites associated with both the Old and New Testaments, but it is much more. Jordan was created out of the marginal areas of several older historical administrative districts after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I. When its borders were drawn up in Cairo in 1920 and named the Emirate of the Transjordan, it was a poor, thinly populated coun- try with settled agriculturalists hugging the better watered western spine and the rest was the home of nomadic pastoralists. Since gaining its full indepen- dence in 1946 the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has been able to create a strong sense of identity based on Bedouin culture among its people. It has emerged since the mid 1970s as a major business and banking center for the xii Preface Middle East with one of the best educated populations in the region, if not the world. Proud of their Bedouin heritage, Jordanians are hospitable and generous. In fact, their hospitality is constantly evoked in the common greeting ahlayn wa sahlayn, “you are twice welcome.” Jordanians use the phrase not only to say “hello,” but also to say “you’re welcome,” “goodbye,” and numerous other uses. Also frequently heard is marhabtayn, which again means “twice welcome.” In fact, Jordan is called the Land of Ahlan wa Sahlan, the Land of Welcome, both by its own people and other Arabs in the Middle East. Jordan remains the Land of Welcome where traditional Arab hospitality is always given to the stranger with no questions asked as well as an island of peace and stability despite the confl icts the rend much of the region. Chronology NATUFIAN CULTURE 11,000–9,300 B.C. Proto-Neolithic—beginnings of permanent settle- ments between 10,000 and 9,000 b.c.—domestica- tion of plants and animals. NEOLITHIC PERIOD 8,350–4,000 B.C. Jericho one of the fi rst places where wheat is known to have been domesticated. 8,300–4,500 B.C. Pre-Pottery Neolithic A and B major sites associated with the origin of agriculture are located in Jordan including those referred to as “mega-sites” of some 10 to 15 hectares in size. 7,520–4,000 B.C. ‘Ayn Ghazal—a “mega-site” located near modern ‘Amman—features include paved streets and a col- lection of clay statues of humans. 6,800–6,000 B.C. al-Baydhah—a “mega-site” located in southern Jordan—the site was abandoned when climate change made it hard to grow dry land crops of wheat and barley. YARMUKIAN CULTURE 6,000–4,000 B.C. Climate change caused an economic change from dry land farming to raising livestock such as sheep and goats—wheat and barely restricted to the better rain- fed areas of the north and the river valleys. xiv Chronology CHALCOLITHIC PERIOD 4500–3100 B.C. Use of copper and bronze tools as well as stone. Bronze Age 3100–1200 B.C. Concentration of settlements in the regions that would eventually give rise to local kingdoms Moab and Rabboth Ammon around 1300 b.c. while the rest of the south and east is abandoned to pastoral nomads who herd sheep and goats. Iron Age 1200–539 B.C. Kingdoms of Edom, Moab, Rabboth Ammon, and Gilead established. Arrival of the Hebrews in the early Iron Age— begin series of wars with local kingdoms both in Transjordan and Cisjordan (Palestine) that will last until the Babylonians destroy Judah. 1025–1004 B.C. Saul rules Kingdom of Israel—consolidates control on both sides of the Jordan River. 1004–965 B.C. King David—wars with Raboth Ammon, Moab, and Edom. 1,000–612 B.C. Assyrian Empire—numerous campaigns against the kingdoms of Syria, Jordan, and Palestine. 965–928 B.C. King Soloman—height of power and control over the other kingdoms. 928 B.C. Death of Soloman the Kingdom of Israel is divided into Israel in the north and Judah to the south— continued wars with the Transjordanian kingdoms.