Jordan (Creation of the Modern Middle East)

A tiny country roughly the size of Indiana, Jordan has enjoyed a stable government throughout its 80-year history and has been a significant force in a tumultuous part of the world. Led by Hussein ibn Tallal for more than 40 years, the country built a strong economy, expanded personal freedoms, and assumed a key role in Middle Eastern affairs. Jordan is home to the ancient city of Petra, an archaeological site that remained unknown until 1812. Referred to in the Bible as Sela, Petra's structures were created by carving into the solid, rose-colored rocks. In 1985, it was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, and in 2007, it was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.