Amman is a modern city built of white stone, Amman's growth has skyrocketed since it was made the capital of Trans-Jordan in the early 1920s.

Its history, however, goes back many millennia. The settlement mentioned in the Bible as Rabbath Ammon was the capital of the Ammonites, which later fell to the Assyrians. It was dominated briefly by the Nabataeans before it became a great Roman trade center and was renamed Philadelphia.

Today, Amman is a lively, modern city. While possessing few sites itself, Amman makes a comfortable base from which to explore the northwestern parts of the country. Due to excellerated growth the past several decades, the styles of living differs considerably as one travels from east to west throughout Amman. Visitors desiring to experience "Old Amman" should explore the central downtown, or Balad, which features numerous souqs, shops, and street vendors.