The Decapolis League was an alliance located in southwest Asia and stretched into present day Jordan, Israel, and Syria.

This league developed after 63 BCE. The region was settled by the Greeks and controlled by the Romans. The 10 cities of the Decapolis League were known as: Gerasa, Scythopolis, Hippos, Gadara, Pella, Philadelphia, Dion, Canatha, Raphana, and Damascus.

Though the cities were united through the Decapolis, they each maintained their own independence and self-rule. They joined together on the foundations of a shared language, culture, location, and political status, rather than forming to establish a specific political unit. The League helped these cities to flourish as the centers of Greek and Roman culture, with heavy Roman influence.

The Decapolis was no longer acknowledged after the addition of Arabia to the Roman Empire in the 2nd century CE. However, the cities still remained important cultural centers. Some of the cities still exist today, such as Jerash (Gerasa), Damascus, Umm Qais (Gadara), and Amman (Philadelphia).

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Text: Clare Fogerty