The Tale of Tribes

Abstract

The Bilad al-Sham, or the Eastern Levant, is a region of land located in the eastern Mediterranean. The Bilad al-Sham culture, referred to as Shammi culture, has an emphasis on self image and resents the tribal culture. The narrative in Jordan is that of a country built on tribal culture and values, but this is only half the story. Northern Jordanians feel more accustomed to the Shammi culture compared to the narrative about Jordan. In this study, I will examine how the northern Jordanians perceive the Shammi culture and how it influences their identity. The argument to be made is northern Jordanians are historically not direct descendants of the Shammi culture, but have adopted the Shammi culture as their sense of identity.