Advisor: Prof. Samer Abu-Ghazaleh

Abstract:
This study investigates the regional and historical factors related to the special circumstances of the region, soil, climate, construction materials and the overall social, political and economical circumstances related to its historical nature, and this study also investigates the effects of these factors, and their reflections on the formation of the built environment; in that special and unique way which is called the traditional vernacular architecture, the region of "north Ajloun" in the north of Jordan; was chosen for historical considerations; as it is situated near the capital of the state, Damascus, during the ottoman rule of the Arab and Islamic world; this would allow the study of the architectural form at that unique time, since it is the last ring connecting modern Jordan with the heritage of its past history and Islamic civilization.

Umm-Qais has been chosen as an urban sample for its unique architectural style in its late ottoman settlement that was built in the place of the roman castle; this enables us of achieving the aim of this study.

The result of this study leads to the conclusion that the ottoman architecture was constructed in harmony with the form of the existing urban fabric of the roman oriented axis of movement; the cardo and decumanus, but it was not affected -architecturally speaking- at all with the classical architectural styles existed in the ruins of previous civilizations. It can be concluded that the socio - economic factors existed in a certain region largely affect the architectural design and style. While the urban form is controlled by the topography or by any existing orientation.