Latest news with #AhmadOweidiAl-Abbadi
Ammon
10-08-2025
- General
- Ammon
Nabataean Kingdom of Jordan: The forthcoming scholarly release by Al-Abbadi
Ammon News - Renowned Jordanian historian and thinker, Dr. Ahmad Oweidi Al-Abbadi, is preparing to launch his new monumental work "The Nabataean Kingdom of Jordan from 600 BCE to 106 CE", a two-volume study expected to be published before the end of this year or early next year, Allah willing. This book crowns decades of meticulous academic research—both field and archival—marking a qualitative leap in historical studies on the Nabataeans and their role in Jordan and the broader Arab region. In this work, Dr. Al-Abbadi does not merely retell Nabataean history in chronological order; he delves deeply into their cultural roots, social interactions, and civilizational contributions, guided by a rigorous critical vision that challenges both orientalist narratives and the conventional approaches of Arab and foreign scholarship. With a precise academic language and a strict analytical method, the author offers a fresh reading that unsettles long-held historical assumptions—foremost among them the notion of the 'Semitic race,' which he describes as 'an artificial construct of the eighteenth century.' Instead, he proposes a more accurate term, grounded in archaeological and historical evidence: 'Arab Thamudic'. The book also redraws the historical image of Petra, asserting that the Nabataeans were not its original founders but rather heirs to ancient Jordanian civilizations such as the Hurrians and Edomites, who had laid the earliest foundations of its rock-cut architecture more than 12,000 years ago. Dr. Al-Abbadi highlights how the Nabataeans developed this heritage, bringing it to its zenith during their golden age, before its decline with the Roman occupation in 106 CE. Through this approach, the book becomes far more than a historical study—it is a project to rewrite the civilizational memory of Jordan, linking its deep past to its contemporary national identity, and moving beyond the rigid interpretations imposed by orientalist readings. Upon its release, this work is expected to spark wide scholarly and intellectual debate due to its bold arguments, depth of analysis, and strong connection to Jordan's heritage and its role in Arab civilization. This publication is part of a series of major works to which Dr. Al-Abbadi has dedicated his scholarly life, aiming to re-read the ancient history of Jordan and reaffirm its place as one of the leading intellectual references defending Arab historical identity and highlighting Jordan's contribution to the march of human civilization.
Ammon
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Ammon
Dr. Ahmad Oweidi Al-Abbadi Unveils Secrets of the Jordanian Nabataean Kingdom in His New Book
Ammon News - Dr. Ahmad Oweidi Al-Abbadi, widely known as "Abu Al-Bishr wa Nomayy," continues his efforts to document Jordan's ancient history with his latest book titled "The Jordanian Nabataean Kingdom." The book covers the period from 500 BCE to 106 CE, offering an in-depth analytical study based on ancient Nabataean documents and inscriptions, shedding light on previously unexplored aspects of Jordanian and Nabataean history. In this work, the author presents a bold and innovative perspective, asserting that the Nabataeans were Thamudic Arab Jordanians who formed a powerful alliance of Jordanian Thamudic Arab tribes. This alliance established a unified Jordanian kingdom that stretched from the Arabian Gulf and the borders of Mesopotamia to the shores of the Mediterranean, encompassing Sinai and southern Palestine. Dr. Oweidi Al-Abbadi describes it as the heir to previous Jordanian kingdoms and the first entity to unite Jordan as a land, people, and identity, surrounded by four seas: the Red Sea, the Arabian Gulf, and the Mediterranean from both Sinai and southern Lebanon. Challenging conventional narratives, Dr. Ahmad Oweidi Al-Abbadi critiques the term "Semitic," labeling it a new "historical fabrication" exploited by Zionism. He argues that Petra was not an exclusive Nabataean creation, but a symbol of Jordanian civilization shaped by three successive kingdoms—Hourites, Edomites, and Nabataeans —over 12,000 years of artistic and architectural ingenuity, with the Nabataeans marking the culminating phase of this legacy. The book highlights the Nabataeans' remarkable civilizational contributions, portraying them as architects of an advanced society distinguished by unique architecture, sophisticated agricultural systems, and masterful water resource management. Their dominance over ancient trade routes established them as a pivotal economic and cultural force, leaving an indelible mark on human history. It also delves into Nabataean social, political, religious, military, and legislative life, emphasizing the significant role of women in their society. Dr. Al-Abbadi underscores the Nabataeans' diplomatic reach, noting their ambassadors in eastern, western, and southern states—including an envoy to the Chinese Empire—reflecting their international stature. He explains how the Nabataeans integrated into the Edomite Kingdom before seamlessly and efficiently taking control, becoming masters of trade in the Arab East for over five centuries. This book is part of Dr. Ahmad Oweidi Al-Abbadi's broader project to chronicle Jordan's history before 1921. His previous works include The Jordanian Kingdom of Perea and Its Guarded Capital, Al-Salt, The Jordanian Kingdom of Moab, The Jordanian Kingdom of Edom, and Jordanian Women Who Shaped History. Together, these works affirm the depth of Jordan's identity, the unity of its land and people, and its historical legitimacy.
