Arab Federation: Map & History
The Hashemite Arab Federation was a short-lived confederation that lasted from 14 February to 2 August 1958, between the Hashemite kingdoms of Iraq and Jordan.
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The Hashemite Arab Federation was a short-lived confederation that lasted from 14 February to 2 August 1958, between the Hashemite kingdoms of Iraq and Jordan. Although the name implies a federal structure, it was de facto a confederation.
Modern Countries Once Part of Arab Federation
At its mapped extent, Arab Federation covered territory in 4 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
- Iraq1958–1959 CE · nearly all
- Jordan1958–1959 CE · nearly all
- Palestine1958–1959 CE · most
- Israel1958–1959 CE · a small part
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Arab Federation's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Arab Federation in Depth
History
The third attempt at a formal alliance between Iraq and Jordan came in 1958. In early 1958, Nasser burnished his pan-Arabist credentials by convincing Syria and Egypt to unite as one country: the United Arab Republic (UAR). He portrayed it as the first step among many, openly advocating for other countries to join the UAR, a direct threat to both Hashemite regimes which bordered Syria. To counter Nasser's pan-Arabism, al-Said approached the Hashemite government of Jordan to discuss the formation of a similar union to appease Arab nationalists within Iraq. Officially formed on 14 February 1958, the Arab Union or Arab Federation united foreign policy and defense of each country but left the vast majority of other domestic programs under national jurisdiction.
Background
Pan-Arabism and Arab nationalism were major movements in the Middle East after the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire in 1919–1925. Arab nationalism was particularly popular among intellectuals and the military. Pan-Arabists often advocated for an Arab Union that would combine all the Arabs in a single state, similar to romantic portrayals of the Ottoman Empire and the old caliphates. However, it was unclear who would lead any such proposed pan-Arab state, and major fissures grew between rivals for leadership. The Hashemite dynasty fashioned themselves as the true leaders of the Arab world, but were considered overly deferential to Western interests by other Arab nationalists, and had come to power with the assent and aid of the United Kingdom.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Arab Federation (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Arab Federation: Key Facts
| Capital | Baghdad |
|---|---|
| Official language | Arabic |
| Form of government | confederation |
| Founded | 1958 |
| Dissolved | 1958 |
Facts from Wikidata Q146713 (CC0).
Arab Federation: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Arab Federation exist?
Arab Federation is dated to 1958 CE – 1959 CE, in the Industrial era.
What was the capital of Arab Federation?
The capital of Arab Federation was Baghdad.
How large was Arab Federation at its peak?
At its peak in 1958 Arab Federation covered about 537,952 km².
Other Sovereign Realms
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Industrial Era • Capital: London
Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Lahore, Delhi
Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Raigad