10-08-2025
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.
