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Qaysī-Yemeni dichotomy
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Qaysī-Yemeni dichotomy

history of Jordan
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Quick Summary

The QaysÄ«-YamanÄ« dichotomy refers to a historical division within Arab tribes, originating in pre-Islamic times. This split was a significant source of social identity and sometimes conflict. The QaysÄ« tribes traced their ancestry to northern Arabian groups, such as the MaŹæaddÄ«, NizārÄ«, ŹæAdnānÄ«, or IsmāŹæÄ«lÄ«. Conversely, the YamanÄ« tribes claimed descent from southern Arabian groups like the BanÅ« Kalb or Qaįø„į¹­ÄnÄ«. While this division was once a broad social identifier, only a few tribes and towns in Jordan continue to observe it today.1

In Jordan, the population is overwhelmingly Arab, primarily composed of Jordanians and Palestinians. Historically, Bedouin heritage was dominant, but the influx of Palestinians after the Arab-Israeli wars shifted the demographics. Other minorities include Syrian and Iraqi refugees, as well as smaller Circassian, Armenian, and Turkmen communities.1

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2 Britannica Sources
  1. Yemen - Ethnic groups
  2. Jordan - Ethnic groups

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