Travel and Hospitality in Late Antiquity: A Case Study from Umm el-Jimal in Eastern Jordan

Abstract

The legacy of travel and hospitality in Jordan extends back more than 1,700 years, as evidenced by the late-antique site of Umm el-Jimal. Travel and hospitality revolved around the axes of trade, and generated a suitable subsistence economy in an area with limited resources. Using architectural analysis, ethnography, and archaeological synthesis, the authors show that the city of Umm el-Jimal was built to serve the caravans on the route from Petra to Damascus. The architecture of its houses with courtyards was intended to offer accommodations to travelers. The infrastructure of the city, including its pioneering water system and general layout, contributed significantly to its success in the hospitality industry. The presence of eighteen churches in a very small area with an otherwise small population indicates their that they were used as well for visitors passing through.

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