ABSTRACT
The Ammonites, known from both biblical and extra-biblical sources, were an ancient people who lived on the central Jordanian plateau from about the middle of the second millennium BCE until the latter part of the first millennium BCE. Their country was known as Ammon, while their capital was called Rabbath-amman, or simply, ‘Amman. They are best known for their numerous encounters with the biblical Israelites. However, the Ammonites are also known from numerous ancient extra-biblical sources largely because their territory was astride major travel routes that connected Arabia with the major cultural centers to the north (Syria and Hatti), east (Mesopotamia), and west (Egypt). The Ammonites’ control over part of these critical trade routes led to important interactions with these great powers that greatly impacted the history of both western Palestine (ancient Israel) and Jordan.
