A Jaunt Through Jordan Trivia Quiz

Answer: Earthquake

Today Jerash is the capital of the Jarash Governorate, and has an economy based on tourism and trade. Many different groups of people have settled there in recent times, but the majority of the city's inhabitants are Muslim Arabs.

During the Hellenistic Age the city was known as Gerasa. Although there are other stories about the city's founding, one that is commonly believed is that it was used by Alexander the Great as a place to relocate his retired army veterans. The Romans eventually conquered the city, and, as was the case in many of Rome's provinces, the city was the site of many building projects. Don't forget to visit the Arch of Hadrian and the Oval Forum while you are there!

Much of the city was destroyed in the Earthquake of 749. With an epicenter in Galilee, the effects of the destruction reached all the way to the city of Jerusalem, which reported a significant death toll. In 1121 the Temple of Artemis in the city was converted into a fortress which was destroyed the following year by Crusaders. Jerash, left virtually abandoned for many centuries, eventually became part of the Ottoman Empire, and over time was resettled.

Answer: Amman

The largest city and capital of Jordan today, Amman has been the site of settlement since the Neolithic Age. An important banking and business center, Amman is served by the Queen Alia International Airport. Much effort has been made to develop a transportation system of roads to connect the city with other parts of the country, which, of course, enhances tourism.

In ancient times Amman was an important stop on the King's Highway, a trade route that was used by many peoples, including Egyptians and Mesopotamians, however, it was conquered by both the Assyrians and Persians. It was rebuilt during the Hellenistic Age by one of Alexander the Great's generals, Ptolemy II, who was also called Philadelphus, hence the old name of Philadelphia for the city. As was the case in much of the general nearby area, the Romans conquered the city, and embarked on many building projects. The Temple of Hercules is located in the area of Amman which is called the Amman Citadel, where many impressive ruins can be found.

Answer: Map

With sites that date back to the Bronze Age, Madaba was an ancient settlement. It was part of both the Roman and Byzantine Empires, and became part of the Umayyad Caliphate before being abandoned. It was resettled in the late 1800s by Arab Christian families under the leadership of two Italian priests. Today the city is a center of tourism and the manufacture of handicrafts, as well as an important university town.

Madaba is known for its beautiful mosaics that date back to both Byzantine and Umayyad rule. The 6th century map, commonly called the Madaba Map, is found in St. George's Church. It shows the area, including the city of Jerusalem, and marks important sites, such as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, that are still visited today.

Answer: Jordan River

Al-Maghtas is located about nine miles from the northern shore of the Dead Sea. Also called the Bethany Beyond the Jordan, Al-Maghtas has been a site for Christian pilgrimages for centuries, and tourism is still its major industry today.

It contains two archaeological areas - the site where it is believed that Christ was baptized by his cousin, John the Baptist, and the area of the Churches of St. John the Baptist, which were built by some of the many early visitors to the site. This area includes hermit cells, tombs, and the remains of a monastery. Christians can still be baptized there today. The name Bethany comes from John 1:28, which states, "These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptising". The entire area was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2015.

Answer: Mount Nebo

Parts of the Abarim Range are mentioned several times in the Old Testament; in Numbers 33:47-48 it is stated that the Israelites camped there on their way back to Canaan after crossing the Red Sea and in II Maccabees 2:4-5 it is said that Jeremiah hid the Ark of the Covenant in a cave there. It was from this vantage point, according to the book of Deuteronomy, that Moses was able to see the Promised Land, even though he was not allowed to enter.

Mount Nebo, which is also called Mount Pisgah, is the highest mountain in the Abarim Range. The mountain is tall enough to allow a view of Jericho on the West Bank, and, on a very good weather day, a view of Jerusalem.

Answer: Dead Sea

The Dead Sea region has been attracting people for centuries; Herod the Great used it as a spa resort, and the ancient Egyptians went there to find asphalt, which was used in the mummification process. With a current surface area of about 234 square miles (it has been receding for quite some time), the Dead Sea touches on Jordan, Israel, and Palestine.

In 2016 tourists could stay at one of Jordan's nine international franchise resorts. What do people like to do there? Float in the water, of course! The high density of salt makes it easy to float on one's back, and the minerals in the water are said to make it highly therapeutic. There are also some archaeological sites to visit a short distance away. And what about the minerals mentioned in the question? The Arab Potash Company produces about 2 millions tons of potash annually, and bromine and sodium chloride are processed as well.

Answer: Crusader

Of course, the Iron Age and Byzantine occupation of Jordan came much earlier than the 1140s, and Ottoman rule came later.

During the Crusades, castles were built in areas that were traveled by the knights who were coming to the Holy Land to free Jerusalem. While it may not seem logical to build a stronghold that is actually west of the target area, al-Karak was situated in a region that was occupied by Bedouins and controlled many Muslim trade routes, so it was an important base for European knights; so important, in fact, that the great Saladin laid siege to the castle twice - unsuccessfully. By 1183, however, his nephew was successful in cutting off castle supplies, and it fell to the Muslim army. Reinforcements were made and structures were added to the complex, making it an important government center for that part of Jordan for centuries.

Answer: Sandstone

The ancient Nabataeans, a group of nomads, settled around Petra at least as early as the 2nd century BC and established the city as an important trading post on the caravan route. They were able to collect badly needed water from flash floods and store it in cisterns, and even sold it. In the first century AD, it is believed that the population of the city, originally called Raqmu, was 20,000. It is also believed that around this time, the most famous structure in the city, called Al Khazneh, or the Treasury, was constructed. After the Romans gained control of the city around 106 AD, it was partially destroyed by an earthquake, although some churches were built there during the Byzantine period.

The canyon leading to Petra is called the Siq; it was created by tectonics and worn smooth by natural erosion. Geologists believe that the sandstone found there dates back to 540 to 260 million years ago. It is part of an area called the Rum Sandstone Group. The stone is beautiful in color (pinks, oranges, reds, mauves, and grays), and the skill of the ancient Nabataeans is amazing.

Answer: Wadi Rum

Even though "wadi" typically means "valley" in Arabic, it should be noted that sometimes the valley might be dry. This area is part of what geologists called the Rum Sandstone Group that includes Petra. What is absolutely amazing about the Wadi Rum, is the fact that even though it is a desert, there is more to see than sand! There are many magnificent rock formations there, but be sure to see the Umm Fruth Rock Bridge, which will just take your breath away.

Lawrence of Arabia did spend time at Wadi Rum in 1917-18, and described the site in his book, "The Seven Pillars of Wisdom". It makes sense, then, that scenes from the movie, "Lawrence of Arabia" (1962), were filmed there. Scenes from other movies, such as "The Martian" (2015) and "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" (2019), were also filmed at this site.

Answer: Aqaba

Historically Aqaba has been an important trade city in Jordan since the Copper Age, as it is located on the busy crossroads between Africa and Asia. In fact, many important civilizations that thrived in the ancient Middle East, including Assyria, Chaldea, and Persia, conquered the city and used it as a thriving port. Also ruled by the ancient Greeks and Romans, as well as the Byzantines, the city fell to Muslim invaders in the 7th century AD. Today the economy of the city is still tied to trading.

There are also many prehistoric, ancient and medieval sites there for a tourist to enjoy. In addition, there is a lovely beach, complete with coral reefs to explore.