Birmingham

Birmingham is twinned with:.
. Among the city's notable scientists and inventors are:. About 2.6 million persons registered as Palestinian refugees and displaced persons reside in Jordan, most as citizens. Local inventions and notable firsts include: gas lighting, roller skate wheels, the Baskerville Font, questionnaires, Custard powder, foam rubber, the magnetron (the core component in the development of radar and microwave ovens), the UK electroplating industry, the first ever use of radiography in an operation, and the UK's first ever hole-in-the-heart operation, at Birmingham Children's Hospital. Most people live where the rainfall supports agriculture. Birmingham is also the hub for various national ethnic media, including The Voice, The Sikh Times, Desi Xpress, The Asian Today and Raja TV (based in the Mailbox). About 70% of Jordan's population is urban; less than 6% of the rural population is nomadic or semi-nomadic.

Local radio stations include BRMB, Galaxy, BBC WM and Heart FM, and Kerrang, Birmingham's first dedicated rock station. The official language is Arabic, but English is used widely in commerce and government. The Central TV and BBC studios are famous for many shows, including Tiswas, Crossroads, Dalziel & Pascoe, Midlands Today, the BBC Asian Network,. Jordanians are Semitic Levantines , except for a few small communities of Chechens, Circassians, Assyrians, Armenians, and Kurds which have adapted to Arabic culture. The BBC has its regional headquarters, BBC Birmingham, in the Mailbox, in the Convention Quarter (where they relocated from Pebble Mill), and many television and radio programes are produced in the city, including the world's longest running radio soap opera, The Archers. Following the Sharm-al-Sheik Summit in Egypt on 8 February 2005, both countries announced plans to return ambassadors to the country. StarCity is said to be Europe's largest leisure and cinema complex and is not far from the Britain's only permanent drive-in cinema maintained by T-Mobile; both are in Nechells. Following the intifadah, though, Jordan along with Egypt withdrew its ambassadors from Israel.

The Birmingham Film Festival takes place annually, and the Birmingham School of Acting won a Royal Television Society award for their short film 'Soul Boy'. Since the outbreak of the Intifadah in September 2000, Jordan has worked hard, in a variety of fora, to maintain lines of communication between the Israelis and the Palestinians to counsel moderation and to return the parties to negotiations of outstanding permanent status issues. The Electric Cinema on Station Street is the oldest working cinema in the UK, and Oscar Deutsch opened his first Odeon cinema in Perry Barr during the 1920s. Jordan also is a member of the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Nonaligned Movement (NAM), and Arab League. Birmingham is unusual in supporting two local newspapers - the Birmingham Post and the Evening Mail - as well as the Sunday Mercury, all owned by the Trinity Mirror, who also produce The Birmingham News, a weekly freesheet distributed to homes in the leafy surburbs along with Forward, the Birmingham City Council's free newspaper distributed to homes and via community centres and public buildings. Jordan belongs to the UN and several of its specialized and related agencies, including the World Trade Organization (WTO), the International Meteorological Organization (IMO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and World Health Organization (WHO). Patrick's Day parade (Europe's second largest, after the one in Dublin). Jordan also participates in the multilateral peace talks.

The city's largest single-day event is its St. has participated with Jordan and Israel in trilateral development discussions in which key issues have been water-sharing and security; cooperation on Jordan Rift Valley development; infrastructure projects; and trade, finance, and banking issues. The city also hosts an annual arts festival (Artsfest) during September, where people can enjoy many of the regions' arts, free. The U.S. Birmingham Pride takes place in the 'gay village' and attracts up to 100,000 visitors each year. Jordan and Israel signed a historic peace treaty on 26 October 1994, witnessed by President Bill Clinton, accompanied by Secretary Warren Christopher. The currently biennial Caribbean- style Birmingham International Carnival was originally the Handsworth Carnival, held in Handsworth Park from 1984, but now takes place in the August of odd- numbered years, parading through the streets of Handsworth to Perry Barr Park. Jordan signed a nonbelligerency agreement with Israel (the Washington Declaration) in Washington, DC, on 25 July 1994.

The Birmingham Tattoo is a military show that has taken place in the city for several years. The Government of Jordan signed a memorandum of understanding with the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq to facilitate the training of up to 30,000 Iraqi police cadets at a Jordanian facility. George's Day party. Following the fall of the Iraqi regime, Jordan has played a pivotal role in supporting the restoration of stability and security to Iraq. Birmingham is home to many national, religious and spiritual festivals including a St. Relations between Jordan and the Gulf countries improved substantially after King Hussein's death. Graffiti (or "spraycan art") culture appeared in the early 1980s, and graffiti art competitions are still regularly held. Following the Gulf war, Jordan largely restored its relations with Western countries through its participation in the Middle East peace process and enforcement of UN sanctions against Iraq.

Other famous Birmingham artists include David Cox, David Bomberg, and various Afro-Caribbean artists including Pogus Caesar, Keith Piper and Donald Rodney. Although the Government of Jordan stated its opposition to the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait, popular support for Iraq was driven by Jordan's Palestinian community, which favored Saddam as a champion against Western supporters of Israel. For a fuller list of art galleries in Birmingham, see Arts in Birmingham. These relations were damaged by Jordan's neutrality and maintaining relations with Iraq during the first Gulf War. The Barber Institute of Fine Arts was declared 'Gallery of the Year' by the 2004 Good Britain Guide. Jordan has consistently followed a pro-Western foreign policy and traditionally has had close relations with the United States and the United Kingdom. Edward Burne-Jones was born in Birmingham, spent his first twenty years in the city, and later became the president of the Birmingham Society of Artists. Without calm in the region, economic growth seems destined to stay below its potential.

Birmingham has one of the largest collections of Pre-Raphaelite art in the world at The Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. While pursuing economic reform and increased trade, Jordan's economy will continue to be vulnerable to external shocks and regional unrest. Auden and Benjamin Zephaniah. dollar since 1995. H. Rates of price inflation are low, at 2.3% in 2003, and the currency has been stable with an exchange rate fixed to the U.S. Tolkien, Arthur Conan Doyle, Louis MacNeice, Washington Irving, David Lodge, W. One of the most important factors in the government’s efforts to improve the well-being of its citizens is the macroeconomic stability that has been achieved since the 1990s.

R. Jordan's population growth rate is high, but has declined in recent years, to approximately 2.8% currently. R. Education and literacy rates and measures of social well-being are relatively high compared to other countries with similar incomes. Literary figures associated with Birmingham include Samuel Johnson , J. Jordan is classified by the World Bank as a "lower middle income country." The per capita GDP was approximately $1,817 (€1,479) for 2003 and 14.5% of the economically active population, on average, was unemployed in 2003. The Fierce Festival teams with the Birmingham Repertory Theatre annually to present an series of quirky performances from local and national companies. More information on the FTA is available on [1].

The Mac and Drum arts centres also host many professional plays. Jordan has been a member of the World Trade Organization since 2000. The four largest professional theatres are the Alexandra Theatre ("the Alex"), Birmingham Repertory Theatre ("The Rep"), the Birmingham Hippodrome and the Old Rep. In 1996, Jordan and the United States signed a civil aviation agreement that provides for "open skies" between the two countries, and a U.S.-Jordan treaty for the protection and encouragement of bilateral investment entered into force in 2003. There are many theatres in Birmingham. The agreement also provides for more open markets in communications, construction, finance, health, transportation, and services, as well as strict application of international standards for the protection of intellectual property. Birmingham's other city-centre music venues include The National Indoor Arena (NIA), the CBSO Centre, Adrian Boult Hall at Birmingham Conservatoire and Birmingham Town Hall (currently closed for refurbishment). The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States that went into effect in December 2001 will phase out duties on nearly all goods and services by 2010.

Albert William Ketèlbey was born in Alma Street, Aston in 1875. The low tax and low regulation Aqaba Special Economic Zone (ASEZ) is considered a model of a government-provided framework for private sector-led economic growth. Music was written for the festival by Mendelssohn, Gounod, Sullivan, Dvorak, Bantock and most notably Elgar, who wrote four of his most famous choral pieces for Birmingham. The government has emphasized the information technology (IT) and tourism sectors as other promising growth sectors. The Birmingham Triennial Music Festival took place from 1784 - 1912 and was considered the grandest of its kind throughout Britain. Similar growth in exports to the United States under the bilateral Free Trade Agreement that went into effect in December 2001, to the European Union under the bilateral Association Agreement, and to countries in the region, holds considerable promise for diversifying Jordan's economy away from its traditional reliance on exports of phosphates and potash, overseas remittances, and foreign aid. The equally world-renowned Birmingham Royal Ballet also resides in the city as does the world's oldest vocational dance school, Elmhurst School for Dance. in 1997, when two-way trade was €321 million ($395 million); it exported €538 million ($661 million) in 2002 with two-way trade at €855 million ($1.05 billion).

The internationally-renowned City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra's home venue is Symphony Hall, where it gives frequent performances. Jordan exported €5.6 million ($6.9 million) in goods to the U.S. Digbeth, near the city centre, features some of the country`s top dance clubs, and the nearby National Exhibition Centre has played host to the biggest indoor dance events in the country. Since 2000, exports of light manufactured products, principally textiles and garments manufactured in the Qualifying Industrial Zones (QIZ) that enter the United States tariff and quota free, have been driving economic growth. Birmingham has also been synonymous in the development of the British electronic music scene. The government plans to extend this pipeline north to the Amman area and beyond. Party in the Park, a popular chart music event, is Birmingham's largest music festival. In addition, a natural gas pipeline from Egypt to the southern port city of Aqaba was completed in 2003.

Jazz is popular in the city, and the annual Birmingham International Jazz Festival is the largest of its kind in the UK. Since early 2003, oil has been provided by some Gulf Cooperation Council member countries. The Streets), R&B singer Jamelia and Editors. During the 1990s, its crude petroleum needs were met through imports from Iraq and neighboring countries. Recent chart success has come from Mike Skinner (a.k.a. Jordan also depends on external sources for the majority of its energy requirements. The 1980s brought Duran Duran, possibly the most successful new romantic group, and Dexy's Midnight Runners, and the 1990s the Charlatans, Dodgy and Ocean Colour Scene. The country is currently exploring ways to expand its limited water supply and use its existing water resources more efficiently, including through regional cooperation.

Singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading had many hits during this decade. Jordan is a small country with limited natural resources. The 1970s also saw the rise of reggae and ska in the city, with Steel Pulse and later on UB40, The Beat and Musical Youth. However, the western part of the country receives greater precipitation during the rainy season from November to April. In the 1970s members of The Move and The Idle Race formed the Electric Light Orchestra and Wizzard. The climate in Jordan is dry and hot, since the country is mainly desert. Robert Plant and John Bonham came from nearby towns, and played in local Brum Beat bands before forming two thirds of Led Zeppelin. Major cities include the capital Amman in the northwest, Irbid and Az Zarqa, both in the north.

The city is often described as the birthplace of heavy metal music, with Judas Priest and Black Sabbath coming from Birmingham. Jordan is considered to be part of the "cradle of humanity". In the 1960s, the "Brum Beat" era featured blues and early progressive rock bands such as The Fortunes, Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, The Move and The Moody Blues. The highest point in the country is Jabal Ram, while the lowest is the Dead Sea. Although its music scene is not as renowned as those of Liverpool or Manchester, Birmingham has had a vibrant and varied musical history over the last half-century. The Great Rift Valley of the Jordan River separates Jordan and Israel. The BBC Good Food Show takes place at The National Exhibition Centre, and is Britain's biggest food event. Jordan consists mostly of arid desert plateau in the east, with Highland area in the west.

The city boasts two Michelin starred restaurants: Simpson's and Jessica's, both in Edgbaston. The Gulf of Aqaba and the Dead Sea also touch the country, and thus Jordan has a coastline of 26 km. The Balti was invented in the city and has since received much gastronomic acclaim for the 'Balti Belt' of restaurants in the Sparkbrook, Balsall Heath and Ladywood areas. All these border lines add up to 1619 km. This later became The Darjeeling, the first Indian restaurant in Birmingham. Jordan is a Middle Eastern country, bordered by Syria to the north, Iraq to the northeast, Saudi Arabia to the east and south and Israel and West Bank to the west. In 1945, Abdul Aziz opened a cafe shop selling curry and rice in Steelhouse Lane. They are the sole authorities for all government departments and development projects in their respective areas.

The Wing Yip food empire first began in the city and now has its headquarters in the Chinese Quarter. Administratively, Jordan is divided into 12 governorates, each headed by a governor appointed by the king. Ladypool Road, Sparkhill contains the largest concentration of restaurants in Birmingham and possibly the UK. While King Abdullah remains the ultimate authority in Jordan, the parliament plays an important role. Alum Rock Road, Alum Rock, contains the largest concentration of take-away businesses in Birmingham. Moving toward greater independence, Jordan's parliament has investigated corruption charges against several regime figures and has become the major forum in which differing political views, including those of political Islamists, are expressed. Famous food brands from Birmingham include Typhoo tea, Birds custard, Blue Bird Toffee, Bournville cocoa, Cadbury chocolate, and HP Sauce. Jordan's continuing structural economic difficulties, burgeoning population, and more open political environment led to the emergence of a variety of political parties.

The Anchor Inn (1797), is also nearby in Digbeth. Abdullah, during the first year in power, refocused the government's agenda on economic reform. The oldest inn in Birmingham is the Old Crown in Deritend (circa 1450). Abdullah moved quickly to reaffirm Jordan's peace treaty with Israel and its relations with the United States. Many fine Victorian pubs and bars can still be found across the city. King Abdullah II succeeded his father Hussein following the latter's death in February 1999. Aston Manor Brewery is currently the only brewery of any significant size. Controversial changes in the election law led Islamist parties to boycott the 1997 elections.

Birmingham based Breweries included Ansells, Davenports and Mitchells & Butlers. In 1989 and 1993, Jordan held free and fair parliamentary elections. Birmingham has been awarded the title National City of Sport by the Sports Council. King Hussein ended martial law in 1991 and legalized political parties in 1992. Birmingham also has a professional Rugby Union side, Moseley RFC, and there is professional basketball, boxing, hockey, skateboarding, and greyhound racing in the city. King Hussein ruled Jordan from 1953 to 1999, surviving a number of challenges to his rule, drawing on the loyalty of his military, and serving as a symbol of unity and stability for both the East Bank and Palestinian communities in Jordan. The world's first professional football league was founded at a meeting in Aston on March 22, 1885 under the auspices of William McGregor, a director of Aston Villa. They are the sole authorities for all government departments and development projects in their respective areas.

The city is home to two of the UK's oldest professional football teams: Aston Villa (1874) and Birmingham City (1875), both of whom currently play in the Premier League. Administratively, Jordan is divided into eight governorates, each headed by a governor appointed by the king. The first ever game of lawn tennis was played in Edgbaston in 1859; international tennis is still played at Edgbaston's Priory Club. The constitution provides for three categories of courts – civil, religious, and special. The NIA also hosts events in many other sports, such as the World Indoor Badminton Championships. The 40-member Senate is appointed by the king for an 8-year term. The National Indoor Arena (NIA) meanwhile is a major indoor athletics stadium and in 2003 hosted the 9th IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics. Nine seats are reserved for Christians, 6 for women, and three for Circassians and Chechens.

International athletics meetings take place at the open-air Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr, the home of Birchfield Harriers athletic club, which numbers many Olympic medallists among its past and present members. The 110-member Chamber of Deputies, elected by universal suffrage to a 4-year term, is subject to dissolution by the king. A cricket club was in existence in Birmingham as early as 1745, and today the city is home to Warwickshire County Cricket Club whose ground at Edgbaston is also a venue for international test matches. Legislative power rests in the bicameral National Assembly. King Edward's School is perhaps the most prestigious independent school in the city. The cabinet is responsible to the Chamber of Deputies on matters of general policy and can be forced to resign by a two-thirds vote of "no confidence" by that body. A minority of the city's children receive private education. The council of ministers, led by a prime minister, is appointed by the king, who may dismiss other cabinet members at the prime minister's request.

It also runs the library service, with 4 million visitors annually [6], and provides around 4000 adult education courses throughout the year [7]. Cabinet decisions, court judgments, and the national currency are issued in his name. The city council is England's largest local education authority, directly or indirectly responsible for 25 nursery schools, 328 primary schools, 77 secondary schools [4] and 29 special schools [5]. He appoints and may dismiss all judges by decree, approves amendments to the constitution, declares war, and commands the armed forces. The Birmingham Conservatoire and Birmingham School of Acting, both now part of UCE, offer higher education in the arts. His veto power may be overridden by a two-thirds vote of both houses of the National Assembly. It also has two other higher education colleges (Newman College and the Birmingham College of Food, Tourism and Creative Studies). The king signs and executes all laws.

Birmingham has three universities: the University of Birmingham, Aston University and the University of Central England (UCE). Executive authority is vested in the king and his council of ministers. Birmingham's canals are comparatively shallow artificial channels, while those in Venice are primarily reinforced natural channels between islands of the lagoon on which the city stands. Jordan is a constitutional monarchy based on the constitution promulgated on January 8, 1952. Although this is in some sense correct (Venice has 26 miles), Birmingham is far larger [3], and the types of waterway are very different. Al-Qaeda in Iraq, a group led by native Jordanian Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, claimed responsibility. The abundance of canals has led to the frequently made claim that "Birmingham has more canals than Venice". At least 57 people died and 115 were wounded.

There are 35 miles (60 km) of canals in the city, most remaining navigable. On November 9, 2005, Jordan experienced three simultaneous bombings at hotels in Amman. Birmingham is also notable for its canal system; formerly the lifeblood of the city's industries, their use is now mainly for pleasure. Jordan has since sought to remain at peace with all of its neighbours. The city's main station, Birmingham New Street, is at the centre of the national rail network, whilst Birmingham International railway station serves Birmingham International Airport which has flights to cities across Europe and several Asian and North American destinations. Following the outbreak of Israeli-Palestinian fighting in September 2000, the Jordanian government offered its good offices to both parties. The number 11A and 11C outer circle bus routes are the longest urban bus routes in Europe. As a result, an Israeli-Jordanian peace treaty was concluded on October 26, 1994.

Local public transport is by bus, local train and tram (the Midland Metro light railway system between the city centre and Wolverhampton). It negotiated an end to hostilities with Israel and signed a declaration to that effect on July 25, 1994 (see Washington Declaration). Junction 6 of the M6 is also one of Birmingham's most famous landmarks, and probably the most famous motorway junction in the UK: Spaghetti Junction, officially called the Gravelly Hill Interchange. and Russia. It is served by a number of major roads, including the M5, M6, M6 Toll, M40, and M42 motorways. In 1991, Jordan agreed, along with Syria, Lebanon, and Palestinian representatives, to participate in direct peace negotiations with Israel sponsored by the U.S. Due in part to its central location in England, Birmingham is a major transport hub on the motorway, rail, and canal networks. Jordan did not participate in the Gulf War of 1990-91.

For a larger list see List of famous residents of Birmingham. No fighting occurred along the 1967 Jordan River cease-fire line during the October 1973 Arab-Israeli war, but Jordan sent a brigade to Syria to fight Israeli units on Syrian territory. Tolkien, and Ozzy Osbourne are a few of the many famous names associated with Birmingham. At the Rabat summit conference in 1974, Jordan agreed, along with the rest of the Arab League, that the PLO was the "sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people", thereby relinquishing to that organization its role as representative of the West Bank Palestinians. R. Sporadic violence continued, however, until Jordanian forces led by Habis Al-Majali won a decisive victory over the fedayeen in July 1971, expelling them from the country. R. By 22 September, Arab foreign ministers meeting at Cairo had arranged a cease-fire beginning the following day.

Neville Chamberlain, J. In the ensuing heavy fighting, a Syrian tank force took up positions in northern Jordan to support the fedayeen but subsequently retreated. See also Places of interest in Birmingham. Other Arab governments attempted to work out a peaceful solution, but by September, continuing fedayeen actions in Jordan – including the destruction of three international airliners hijacked by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and held in the desert east of Amman – prompted the government to take action to regain control over its territory and population. Birmingham is also the seat of the Government Office for the West Midlands region. The battle in which Palestinian fighters from various Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) groups were expelled from Jordan is commonly known as Black September. Birmingham's eleven constituencies are represented in the House of Commons by one Conservative, one Liberal Democrat, and 9 Labour MPs. The heavily armed fedayeen constituted a growing threat to the sovereignty and security of the Hashemite state, and open fighting erupted in June 1970.

There is a Conservative/Lib-Dem coalition, with Conservative group leader Mike Whitby as Leader of the council and Lib-Dem group leader Paul Tilsley as Deputy Leader. The period following the 1967 war saw an upsurge in the power and importance of Palestinian resistance elements (fedayeen) in Jordan. After the election of 10 June 2004, there is no overall control, with the 120 seats being divided between the Labour, (53 councillors), Conservative (39) and Liberal Democrat ("Lib-Dem", 28) parties. Its Palestinian refugee population – 700,000 in 1966 – grew by another 300,000 from the West Bank. Birmingham City Council is the largest local authority in the UK with, following a reorganisation of boundaries in June 2004, 120 councillors representing just under one million people, in 40 wards. The 1967 war led to a dramatic increase in the number of Palestinians, especially from the West Bank, living in Jordan. There has been a lot of new building in the city centre in recent years, including the award-winning Future Systems' Selfridges building, an irregularly-shaped structure covered in thousands of reflective discs (see picture), the Brindleyplace development and the Millennium Point science and technology centre. The international community as represented in the United Nations considers the West Bank to be territory occupied by Israel and believes that its final status should be determined through direct negotiations among the parties concerned on the basis of UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338.

In more recent years, Birmingham has learnt from what many see as the mistakes of the 1960s and instituted the largest tower block demolition and renovation programmes anywhere in Europe. In 1988, Jordan renounced all claims to the West Bank but retained an administrative role pending a final settlement, and its 1994 treaty with Israel allowed for a continuing Jordanian role in Muslim and Christian holy places in Jerusalem. The planning decisions of the post-war years were to have a profound effect on the image of Birmingham in subsequent decades, with the mix of ring roads, shopping malls and tower blocks often referred to as a 'concrete jungle'. During the war, Jordan lost its control of the West Bank and all of Jerusalem. In inner-city areas too, much Victorian housing was redeveloped and existing communities were relocated to tower block estates like Castle Vale. Jordan signed a mutual defense pact in May 1967 with Egypt, and it participated in the June 1967 war against Israel along with Syria, Egypt, and Iraq. However, the destruction that took place in post-war Birmingham was also extensive: dozens of fine Victorian buildings like the intricate glass-roofed Birmingham New Street Station, and the old Central Library, were razed in the 1950s and 1960s and replaced with modernist concrete buildings. The annexation was recognised only by the United Kingdom.

Continued population growth in the interwar period, saw vast estates of semi-detached houses being built on greenfield land in outlying parts of the city such as Kingstanding and Weoley Castle, but the coming of World War II and the Blitz claimed many lives and many beautiful buildings too. In 1950, Transjordan annexed the West Bank, and the country was renamed "the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan" to reflect this. Across the city, the need to house the industrial workers gave rise to miles of redbrick streets and terraces, many of back-to-back houses, some of which were later to become inner-city slums. The armistice agreements of 3 April 1949 left Jordan in control of the West Bank and provided that the armistice demarcation lines were without prejudice to future territorial settlements or boundary lines. The characteristic materials of Victorian Birmingham are red brick and terracotta, and many fine Victorian buildings have been retained on New Street and Corporation Street in the city centre. Transjordan opposed the creation of Israel in May 1948, and took part in the warfare between the Arab states and the newly founded State of Israel. Saint Chad's Cathedral, built in 1839 by Augustus Pugin, was the first Roman Catholic Cathederal to be built in the UK since the Reformation. It ended its special defense treaty relationship with the United Kingdom in 1957.

Major public buildings such as the Town Hall, the Law Courts, the Council House (see picture) and the Museum & Art Gallery were constructed, many under the auspices of Joseph Chamberlain's reforming mayoralty. The mandate over Transjordan ended on 22 May 1946; on 25 May, the country became the independent Hashemite Kingdom of Transjordan. The Victorian era saw extensive building across the city. The British installed the Hashemite Prince Abdullah, while continuing the administration of Palestine and Transjordan under a single British High Commissioner. Tolkien). In 1922, in an attempt to assuage Arab anger resulting from the Balfour Declaration, with the approval of the League of Nations, the British created the semi-autonomous Arab Emirate of Transjordan in all Palestinian territory east of the Jordan river. R. At the end of World War I, the territory now comprising Israel, Jordan, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and Jerusalem was awarded to the United Kingdom by the League of Nations as the mandate for Palestine.

R. Subsequent invaders and settlers included Hittites, Egyptians, Israelites, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arab Muslims, Christian Crusaders, Mameluks, Ottoman Turks, and, finally, the British. Among them are St Philip's Cathedral, originally built as a parish church, St Paul's Church in the largely Georgian St Paul's Square, Soho House in Handsworth, the home of Matthew Boulton, and Perrott's Folly in Ladywood (which is said to have later inspired J. Its known history began around 2000 B.C., when Semitic Amorites settled around the Jordan River in the area called Canaan. The city grew rapidly from Georgian times and a number of buildings survive from this period. The land that became Jordan forms part of the history-rich Fertile Crescent region. A few other buildings from the medieval and Tudor periods survive, among them The Old Crown public house in Digbeth, the 15th century Saracen's Head public house and Old Grammar School in Kings Norton and Blakesley Hall in Yardley. .

The current church (begun around 1290) was extensively re-built in the 1870s, retaining some original walls and foundations. It shares with Israel the coastlines of the Gulf of Aqaba and the Dead Sea. Traces of medieval Birmingham can be seen in the oldest churches, notably the original parish church, St Martin's in the Bullring, where a church has stood since at least the 12th century. It is bordered by Syria to the north, Iraq to the north-east, Saudi Arabia to the east and south, and Israel and the Israeli-administered West Bank to the west. Consequently, relatively few buildings survive from its earlier history. The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, commonly called Jordan (Arabic أردنّ, transliterated ʼUrdunn), is an Arab country in the Middle East. Although Birmingham has existed as a settlement for over a thousand years, today's city is overwhelmingly a product of the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, as the real growth of the city began with the Industrial Revolution. Jordan Planet.

Attractions for visitors include Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Millennium Point, Bull Ring, Selfridges Building, Cadbury World, Tolkien Trail [2], Birmingham Royal Ballet, and the National Sea Life Centre. Transportation in Jordan. Millions of people visit Birmingham every year, and in 2004 the city was named the second best place to shop in England after the West End of London [1]. Royal Jordanian Air Force. In recent years Birmingham's economy has diversified into service industries, retailing, tourism and conference hosting, which are now the main employers in the city. Royal Jordanian Airlines. Lloyds Bank (now Lloyds TSB) began in 1765 and the Midland Bank (now part of HSBC) opened in Union Street in August 1836. Public holidays in Jordan.

Two of Britain's "big four" banks were founded there. Military of Jordan. The city attracts over 40% of the UK's total conference trade. List of Prime Ministers of Jordan. Birmingham has over 500 law firms, and is Europe's second largest insurance market. Famous people from Jordan. Other famous brands from the city include Bakelite, Bird's Custard, Brylcreem, BSA, Cadbury's chocolate, Chad Valley toys, Halfords, HP Sauce, Typhoo Tea and Valor. Foreign relations of Jordan.

Scientific research (including research into nanotechnology at the University of Birmingham) is expanding in the city. Communications in Jordan. The city's present day products include motor vehicles, vehicle components and accessories, weapons, electrical equipment, plastics, machine tools, chemicals, food, jewellery and glass. US State Department [2]. However, the future for the former looks bleak, as MG Rover went into administration in 2005, resulting in the plant being mothballed and the loss of 6,000 jobs at the site, plus more in the supply chain. CIA World Factbook. Birmingham was home to two major car factories: MG Rover in Longbridge and Jaguar in Castle Bromwich. Music of Jordan.

The city's workers designed and constructed railway carriages, steam engines, bicycles, automobiles and even – unusually for somewhere so far from the sea – ships, which were made as pre-fabricated sections, then assembled at the coast. Islam in Jordan. James Watt improved the Steam Engine while working in the city, and historically the largest manufacturers in the city have been associated with the steam, electric and petrol transport and power industries. Zarqa. Until 2003, coins for circulation were manufactured in the Jewellery Quarter at the Birmingham Mint, the oldest independent mint in the world, which continues to produce commemorative coins and medals. Tafileh. The Jewellery Quarter is still the largest concentration of dedicated jewellers in Europe, and one third of the jewellery manufactured in the UK is made within one mile of Birmingham city centre. Salt.

Pen manufacture in Birmingham helped revolutionise writing across the world with many companies based in and around the Jewellery Quarter. Mafraq. During the Industrial Revolution many factories, foundries and businesses prospered in the city, including the areas known as the Gun Quarter and Jewellery Quarter. Madaba. Birmingham's industrial heritage predates the Industrial Revolution, and up until the 20th Century the city maintained a tradition of individual craftsmen, sometimes working independently in their own back yards or on piecework rates in rented workshops, alongside larger factories. Ma'an. Over a quarter of the UK's exports originate in the greater Birmingham area. Kerak.

Birmingham is an important manufacturing and engineering centre, employing over 100,000 people in industry and contributing billions of pounds to the national economy. Jerash. To the south west of the city lie the Clent Hills and Walton Hill, which reach 315 m and have good views over the city. Irbid. The watershed of the River Severn and River Trent can clearly be seen along the Perry Barr area of Birmingham and areas near Erdington where the level and gradient of the land changes significantly. Balqa. This high ground makes Birmingham prone to tornadoes which were witnessed in mid-2005. Aqaba.

The main north-south watershed of Britain actually passes through Birmingham. Amman. The city of Birmingham is situated on an area of high ground, around 150-200 metres above sea level. Ajlun. Birmingham's transition from an industrial centre to a tourism and services economy is best illustrated by the hosting of the first official summit of the G8 at the International Convention Centre (May 15 to May 17, 1998). In the decades following World War II, the face of Birmingham changed dramatically, with large scale immigration from the Commonwealth of Nations and beyond.

In recent years however, Birmingham has been transformed, the city centre has been extensively renovated and restored with the construction of new squares, the restoration of old streets, buildings and canals, the removal of the pedestrian subways, and the demolition and subsequent redevelopment of the Bull Ring shopping centre, which now includes the architecturally unique Selfridges building. As a result, Birmingham gained a reputation for ugliness and was frequently described as a "concrete jungle". Birmingham suffered heavy bomb damage during World War II, and partly as a result of this the city centre was extensively re-developed during the 1950s and 1960s, with many concrete office buildings, ring-roads, and now much-derided pedestrian subways. The city absorbed Sutton Coldfield in 1974, and at the same time became part of the new West Midlands county.

Birmingham was originally part of Warwickshire, however the city expanded in the late 19th and early 20th century, absorbing parts of Worcestershire to the south and Staffordshire to the west. The city built it's own university in 1900, The University of Birmingham, which became the first of Britain's Redbrick universities. Birmingham's importance led to it being granted city status in 1889 by Queen Victoria. It became known as the "City of a thousand trades" due to the wide array of industries located there.

During the Victorian era, the population of Birmingham grew rapidly to well over half a million and Birmingham became the second largest population centre in Britain. And this was soon followed by the Great Western Railway's Snow Hill station. New Street Station was opened as a joint station in 1854. Railways arrived in Birmingham in 1837, with the opening of the Grand Junction Railway and later the London and Birmingham Railway the railways soon linked Birmingham to every corner of Britain.

By the 1820s an extensive canal system had been constructed; Birmingham is often described as having more miles of canals than Venice. From the 1760s onwards, a large network of canals were built across Birmingham and the Black Country, to transport raw materials and finished goods. Unlike many other English industrial cities such as Manchester, industry in Birmingham was based upon small workshops rather than large factories or mills. During the Industrial Revolution (from the mid 18th century onwards), Birmingham grew rapidly into a major industrial centre.

Arms manufacture in Birmingham became a staple trade and was concentrated in the area known as the Gun Quarter. Birmingham manufacturers supplied Oliver Cromwell's forces with much of their weaponry during the English Civil War. In the 17th century, Birmingham became an important manufacturing town with a reputation for producing small arms. By the 16th century, Birmingham's access to supplies of iron ore and coal meant that metalworking industries became established.

As a convenient location for trade, Birmingham soon developed into a small but thriving market town. In the 12th century, Birmingham was granted a charter to hold a market, which in time became known as the Bull Ring. It was first recorded in written documents by the Domesday Book of 1086 as a small village, worth only 20 shillings. Birmingham started life as a small Anglo-Saxon hamlet in the Early Middle Ages.

The Birmingham area was occupied in Roman times, with several military roads and a large fort. (paloma). In this time, it has grown from a tiny Anglo-Saxon farming village into a major industrial and commercial city. Birmingham has a recorded history going back 1000 years.

. Around 30% of Birmingham's population is of non-white ethnicity; at the time of the 2001 census, 70.4% of the population was White (including 3.2% Irish), 19.5% Asian or Asian British, 6.1% Black or Black British, 0.5% Chinese, and 3.5% of mixed or other ethnic heritage. Birmingham is an ethnically and culturally diverse city. There is a distinctive Brummie dialect and accent.

This comes in turn from the city's dialect name, Brummagem. The people of Birmingham are known as 'Brummies', a term derived from the city's nickname of Brum. It forms part of the larger West Midlands conurbation, which has a population of 2,284,093 (2001 census) and includes several neighbouring towns and cities, such as Solihull, Wolverhampton and the towns of the Black Country. The City of Birmingham has a population of 992,400 (2004 estimate).

To this day over a quarter of the UK's exports originate in the greater Birmingham area. The city's reputation was forged as the powerhouse of the Industrial Revolution in Britain, a fact which led to Birmingham being known as "the workshop of the world". It is England's "second city" and is the largest of England's core cities. Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the English West Midlands.

See also the Black Country. Towns: Bedworth, Cannock, Kenilworth, Kidderminster, Nuneaton, Redditch, Royal Leamington Spa, Rugby, Solihull, Stafford, Stratford-upon-Avon, Tamworth, Warwick,. Cities: Coventry, Leicester, Wolverhampton, Worcester. John Wright, inventor of a type of electroplating.

James Watt, engineer and inventor; associated with the steam engine. Joseph Priestley, chemist and radical. Alexander Parkes, inventor of celluloid, the first synthetic plastic. Sir Francis Galton, originator of eugenics and important techniques in statistics.

Matthew Boulton, proprietor of the Soho engineering works. Victoria Square. Town Hall. Sutton Park.

St Philip's Cathedral. Sarehole Mill. National Sealife Centre. National Indoor Arena.

The Mailbox. mac. Jewellery Quarter - The largest concentration of dedicated jewellers in Europe. Gun Quarter - Once the foremost gun manufacturing community in the UK.

Convention Quarter. Chamberlain Square featuring a BBC Big Screen. Central Mosque. Centenary Square.

Cannon Hill Park. Cadbury World. The Bullring. Brindleyplace - Canalside development.

Blakesley Hall. Birmingham Thinktank - Science Museum. Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

Barber Institute of Fine Arts. The Back to Back houses. Aston Hall.