The history of villages gains special importance in light of the changes witnessed by Jordanian society, and the accompanying demographic, social, and economic shifts that have reflected on the nature of the place and the identity of the individual.
Jordanian villages have received a share of documentation in dictionaries and books on geography, and daily newspapers have contributed to recording aspects of their daily lives by publishing narratives and testimonies related to their origins, development, and the conditions of their people.
However, these efforts, despite their importance, still require a comprehensive national project that collects and classifies historical material, transforming it into documented knowledge that preserves the memory of the place for future generations.
With more than a hundred years having passed since the founding of the state, the need arises to adopt a clear methodology for chronicling villages, based on scientific research, reliance on documents, and linking the history of the place to the transformations of the state and society.
The Jordanian village and its institutions—from municipalities, schools, and health and youth centers, to mukhtars, sheikhs, and notables—possess local records and documents that could form a basis for writing their history, if collected, archived, and analyzed within a comprehensive historical context.
This wealth is not limited to local institutions but extends to the National Library and other archival institutions, which hold documents covering various social, cultural, and administrative aspects.
These documents reveal the needs of the residents, the methods of managing their institutions, and the stages of their development, as well as the nature of social relations and the consensuses, disputes, and conflicts witnessed by local communities that were linked to their historical and economic circumstances.
Jordanian villages have witnessed varying transformations; some have seen their urban areas expand and their populations grow to the point of becoming towns closer to cities, as a result of urban expansion, demographic changes, and proximity to urban centers, while others have retained the features of rural life.
This diversity in documenting village history is a necessity for understanding the differences in local experiences and the paths of transformation in Jordanian society.
Every village has its own archive, which deserves research and study, far from relying on oral narratives alone, despite their importance as a source of popular memory.
Oral narratives gain their historical value when compared with other documents, records, and testimonies, allowing for the reconstruction of the village's history and the uncovering of the experiences of its people and their ability to manage their affairs and develop their institutions.
Many documents are still preserved by individuals and families and have not reached the institutions concerned with documentation.
These popular documents may include old letters, photographs, family records, meeting minutes, and documents related to public and private life.
Today, the importance of the local historian specializing in studying the history of a region, village, or city, and collecting, analyzing, and presenting its sources to generations in clear scientific language, stands out.
The experiences of countries such as Britain and the United States provide models for interest in local history and its role in strengthening the connection of residents to their places.
Jordan needs to consolidate this role by supporting researchers, training those interested in documentation, and linking their efforts with universities and archival and cultural institutions.
Despite the academic efforts that have addressed the history of Jordanian cities and their surroundings, the need remains to expand research to include villages systematically and to build on previous studies within a clear national framework.
Local history is not a margin to general history, but a fundamental entry point for understanding the development of society and the state, and the relationship between local initiatives and national transformations.
Municipalities have a pivotal role in this field, as they can launch projects to document village history, establish local archives, organize exhibitions of photographs and documents, publish historical books, and hold seminars that bring together researchers, the elderly, and document holders, in cooperation with the National Library, universities, and cultural institutions.
