Jordan: About the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan - Part 1
From ExecutivePlanet.com
Geography, religion and culture
Geography
Jordan is located in the Middle East, at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea. It is bordered to the west by Israel and Palestine [on the other side of the Jordan River], to the north by Syria and Iraq, to the east by Saudi Arabia, and to the south by Egypt [across the Gulf of Aqaba].
Rocky and sandy desert makes up the bulk of the Jordan's land area. However, the area just east of the Jordan River and north of the Dead Sea is quite fertile.
The far west edge of the country is marked by the Jordan Valley, an extension of the Great Rift Valley. This valley reaches its greatest depth of almost 400 meters below sea level at the surface of the Dead Sea. With adequate irrigation, the Jordan Valley produces vegetable and fruit crops all year around.
Rising from the Jordan Valley, a ridge of mountains and high plains extends the full length of Jordan from the South to the North. These mountains reach peaks well above a thousand meters in the area of Jerash, the ancient Roman city of renown, and in the area of Petra, the ancient capital of the Nabateans. In these mountains, snow is a common experience in winter. Apples, plums, grapes and various kinds of nut trees do well here. Because of its mild climate, this ridge of highlands is home to most of Jordan's population.
Religion
About 95 percent of the people of Jordan are Muslim. Most of the other five percent are Christian. Law and the constitution guarantee the rights of both groups.
Religion is considered to be an important part of life. It is common to interject questions of religion into most any social or business discussion. References to the teachings of the Koran or the Bible are often made to justify or explain action taken or a position held in negotiations.
It is of utmost importance to treat religion respectfully. A high percentage of the population will be offended by flippant or negative remarks concerning God or the Holy Books.
Culture and Attitude
Jordanians are known for their friendliness and hospitality.
A genuinely respectful attitude is highly regarded in the Jordanian culture. It is one of the marks of a mature person. Another highly respected trait is keeping one's word. It is also very important not to cause embarrassment.
Most western visitors to Jordan never know when they have been offensive to a host or business partner. This is because most Jordanians would never want to embarrass a guest by pointing out the offensive actions or words.
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