Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
City-states emerge across the Middle East. Towns at Amman, Pella, Deir Alla and Tell
Irbid are fortified and trade develops with neighbouring powers in Syria, Palestine and
Egypt.
c 2300 BC
Sodom and Gomorrah, among the five so-called Cities of the Plain, are destroyed in a
cataclysmic disaster on the southeast corner of the Dead Sea.
c 1500 BC
The Middle East enters a period of turmoil as Egypt's influence declines. The Phil-
istines arrive west of the River Jordan, giving the land its current name of Palestine.
c 1200 BC
Ammon (Amman), Moab (Dhiban) and Edom (Buseira) emerge as the dominant king-
doms to the east of the Jordan River. Moses and the Israelites are refused entry to
Edom.
850 BC
The divided Israelite empire is defeated by Mesha, king of Moab, who recorded his
victories on the famous Mesha Stele in the Moabite capital of Dhiban.
582 BC
Ammon, Moab and Edom enjoy brief unity after near annihilation by the Israelites un-
der King David and King Solomon. The union is short-lived; they become Babylonian
provinces under King Nebuchadnezzar II.
c 500 BC
The innovation of the camel saddle transforms the lives of Arab nomads and eventu-
ally brings new caravans to Jordan's southern deserts en route to Damascus.
333 BC
Alexander the Great wins the Battle of Issus, defeating Persian King Darius III. He
moves on Syria and Palestine, which comes under the expansive empire of Greece.
c 323 BC
