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Jordan, a small, resource-poor country in a turbulent region, has pursued a foreign policy balancing the demands of three separate, sometimes conflicting, areas of concentration, Palestine and Israel, the Middle East, and the nations of the West. Much of Jordan's foreign policy was developed in response to the Arab-Israeli conflict, and Jordan has sought Arab unity as a way to make peace with Israel. At the same time, Jordan's dependence on foreign aid has shaped much of its foreign policy with both wealthier Arab nations and the West. Jordan's most complex relationship is with Palestine, the Palestine Liberation Organization, and the Palestinian people.

The eastern part of Jordan is located within an area known as the Fertile Crescent. Today most of Jordan's population lives in urban areas concentrated in the highland region, and the nation's culture is dominated by the presence of several thriving modern cities. In Jordan's cities, wealthy residents who enjoy all the amenities of a Western lifestyle go about their business while the urban poor struggle to find employment, decent housing, and health care. Jordan's capital as well as its largest city, Amman is a mixture of many different elements. While Amman's economy is driven by the service industries of government and finance, Az Zarqa is one of Jordan's most important industrial centers. One of the highland communities near Amman that emerged as a city in the late 20th century, Russeifa today has a population of 138,000, making it Jordan's fourth-largest city.

Since its post-World War I beginnings, Jordan has seen tremendous changes in the size and makeup of its population. Despite the huge shift in Jordan's population from rural to urban during the last half of the 20th century, tribal culture continues to influence modern Jordanian society. One of the factors that have most changed the face of Jordan's people is steady population growth, due to both a high birthrate and a steady influx of refugees. Culturally, Jordan's people tend to be fairly similar to one another. The vast majority of Jordanians, even the nation's Christian minority, are Arabs and speaks the Arabic language. In general, Jordan's city-dwellers tend to be of Palestinian ancestry, and most live in the Amman region. Because families are at the center of Jordanian social life, eating meals together is very important. Traditional handicrafts are still part of Jordanian culture.

Despite its reliance on foreign aid, especially from Britain and the United States, and setbacks, such as the loss of the West Bank in 1967, the Jordanian economy has grown slowly, bringing the country toward financial independence. Following the direction set by his father King Abdullah has worked to take advantage of Jordan's strengths, such as its strategic geographic location, educated workforce, and free enterprise economy. Today more than 9 in 10 Jordanians is a Sunni Muslim. In addition to the Sunni Muslim majority, Jordan has various religious groups.

Unman settlement in the area that today makes up Jordan is believed to date to around 8000 B.C. The Jordan River Valley is among the first places wheat was cultivated, which made possible the growth of permanent communities. One of the few ancient cultures that originated in the land of Jordan, the Nabateans ruled parts of southern Jordan and Palestine for about 1,000 years. By the end of the seventh century, most of the Arab peoples in what is now Jordan had converted to Islam, although small communities of Jews as well as Greek and Arab Christians remained. In 1964 the nations of the Arab League formed the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), whose purpose was to coordinate the activities of Palestinian groups seeking to destroy Israel. Despite the problems with the PLO, in the late 1970's Jordan began to advance its position as an independent nation in the Middle East. At the beginning of the 21st century, present ruler of Jordan King Abdullah, like his father, would have to perform a careful balancing act to sustain good relations with his neighbors and the alliance with the United States, both crucial to Jordan's domestic peace and economic development.

A land of few natural resources, the region of Jordan has nevertheless had strategic importance for thousands of years. Today, Jordan is situated between four powerful countries in the Middle East, Israel, Syria, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. Unlike the countries that surround it, Jordan was never the center of an empire. It never supported a large population or a great urban center. The Jordan River Valley forms 6 percent of Jordan's land. The only other important source of water in Jordan is found in the Azraq Oasis. Because of its environmental significance, the modern government of Jordan has turned the region near Azraq into a wildlife preserve.

Public performances played a huge role in the lives of pre-Hispanic Mexicans. However, these performances did not simply entertain the audience. The archeological record gives an incomplete account of these performances. Music, song, and dance flourished during the pre-Hispanic period. Many large, European-style theaters were built, such as the Teatro Degollado in Guadalajara and the Gran Teatro in Mexico City, which was built for opera, ballet, and symphonic music. Originally, the mariachi bands' instruments included guitar, vihuela, one or two violins, and a harp or guitarrón. Mexican theater followed European models as well. INSETS: Untitled;Untitled.

Architecture, the art or science of building, has a long history in Mexico that began with the civilizations who lived in this land long before the Spaniards came. The culture of the Olmecs was one of the oldest, dating from around 1150 to 400 B.C. Another very important architectural structure in this pre-Hispanic period was the pyramid. Around A.D. 300, some time after the Olmecs, the culture of the Maya emerged on the Yucatán Peninsula. The culture of the Maya was very sophisticated, and they built more complicated structures than other ancient Mexican cultures. INSETS: Untitled;Untitled;Untitled.

Mexican folk arts have their roots in the pre-Hispanic cultures of Mexico. However, these traditional art forms changed over time as they were influenced by outside cultures and the demands of the market. Folk art is different from other forms of art because most folk art comes from the impulse to make everyday objects beautiful. Unlike other forms of art created by professional, trained artists, self-trained crafts people make folk art. Mexican pottery, one of the most ancient forms of folk art, comes in a huge variety of styles and designs. Many other folk arts are part of Mexican culture.

Mexican literature has a history that reaches back nearly 2,000 years. Not only did pre-Hispanic Mexican culture have an oral tradition of songs and poems, but they also had the means to write and record their literature. The various Aztec tribes also had a rich literary tradition. One of the poet-priest was Bernardo de Balbuena. He wrote a long lyrical poem called Grandeza Mexica (1603) that praised the beauty of Mexico City, its women, theaters, and intellectuals. After the War for Independence and the War of Reform, the movement called the Renaciamento began, which tried to use literature, art, and education to build a national identity. INSETS: Untitled;Untitled;Untitled.

Pre-Hispanic Mexican art is a record of ancient ideas about beauty and power. The art of these various civilizations tended to tell a story that was filled with images of people. The Maya also loved to portray the human body in their many paintings and sculptures. They decorated many of their buildings with stone or plaster carvings. During the 18th century, Mexican art's focus shifted away from religious art as Neoclassicism influenced sculpture and painting. Later, the inside walls of churches and monasteries were covered with paintings, like the churches in Renaissance Europe. INSETS: Untitled;Untitled;Untitled;Untitled

Although its boundaries were drawn only in the 20th century, Jordan, officially called the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is an ancient land. Despite the fact that it is mostly desert, archaeologists have discovered within its borders evidence of some of the earliest farming communities in the world. Jordan's current cities have no old quarters, no ancient marketplaces. Unlike surrounding lands, Jordan never hosted an urban area that flourished continuously for a long period. The people of Jordan were not, historically, a united population. The forces that created modern Jordan had their origins outside its borders, with World War I and the idea of nationalism.

Situated between Africa, Europe, and the Far East, the Middle East has played a unique role in world history. Often described as the birthplace of religions, notably Judaism, Christianity, and Islam and the cradle of civilizations namely, Egypt, Mesopotamia, Persia, this region and its peoples have given humanity some of its most precious possessions. Today, more than ever, Americans are aware that events in the Middle East can affect the security and prosperity. The United States has a considerable military, political, and economic presence throughout much of the region.

The article lists several books for references that appeared in the book "Jordan."

The article presents a glossary of terms used in the book "Jordan."

The article lists various Web sites related to Jordan that appeared in the book "Jordan."

The chapter describes the urban communities and cities in Palestine. Historical Palestine contained a number of urban communities where the Palestinians lived for centuries. At the end of the Ottoman era, there were ancient cities that were once walled fortresses, like Jerusalem, Acre, Haifa, Jaffa, and Tiberias. The city of Hebrons about 22 miles south of Jerusalem; the Palestinian Authority estimates that the city and its surrounding communities have a population of about 280,000, making it the largest urban area in the proposed state of Palestine. With an estimated population of more than 185,000, Gaza City is the largest city in the Gaza Strip. Nablus is on the site of another ancient city founded by the Canaanites. Today Nablus has about 160,000 inhabitants, making it the third-largest city in the proposed state of Palestine. Ramallah, located north of Jerusalem near the geographic center of the West Bank, serves as the headquarters of the Palestinian Authority. With an estimated 2000 population of about 100,000, it is the fourth-largest city in the proposed state of Palestine.

The article provides facts about the states and many people that make up the Middle East. Situated as it is between Africa, Europe, and the Far East, the Middle East has played a unique role in world history. Often described as the birthplace of religions and the cradle of civilizations, this region and its people have given humanity some of its most precious possessions. A few general observations are in order as an introduction to the subject matter. The modern Middle East is full of ancient sites and peoples who trace their lineage and literature to antiquity. The second observation has to do with economics, demography, and natural resources. The Middle Eastern people live in a region of often dramatic geographical contrasts. A third important observation is the role of religion in the Middle East.

This chapter discusses the economy, religion and politics of Tunisia as of January 2003. In 2001 the World Bank estimated its gross domestic product at $20 billion. Among the factors that appeal to investors--especially from Europe, Japan, and the United States--is its modern infrastructure, which ensures that goods can be transported efficiently and inexpensively. Among the major agricultural products of Tunisia are olives, olive oil, grain, dairy products, tomatoes, citrus fruit, beef, sugar beets, dates and almonds.