Water has been an important part of human history, but how exactly did it influence certain characteristics of human development? In Merry Weisner’s book Discovering Global Past: A Look at the Evidence, she provides the sources to prove how the need for a steady supply of water affected much of the progress in human society and raises the question, “How did the need for a steady supply of water affect the technological, economic, political, and legal developments of ancient societies?” (35). The answer is that water affected each one of these developments immensely.
The need for a steady supply of water affected the technological developments of ancient societies in a number of ways. The first is that it affected the placement and structure of ancient cities and structures as shown in Source 8 (44), 9 (45), and 11 (46). Source 8, Sima Qian’s Description of the Building of the Zhengguo Canal, ca. 100 B.C.E., discusses the rivalry between the Han and the Chinn, which were both located along the Ching River for easy access to water. Source 9, Suetonius’s Description of the Water Projects Undertaken by Emperor Claudius (r. 41-54 C.E.), talks of how Claudius filled his city with water by using an aqueduct and making a drainage canal, completely modifying the city and the usage of water in it. Source 11, Frontinus’s Discussion of Rome’s Water System, tells of making extraordinarily high arches to get water to the upper parts of Rome so that the rich districts could simplify the process of getting water. Next is that it caused larger and more complex structures to be built which we can see by comparing different sources, for example Source 3 (43) and Source 6 (43) the technological advancement is easily seen, the Shaduf only allowed on...
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...see the water and agricultural projects. Source 10 (46) tells of a man who traveled inspecting water usage and helping to build irrigation methods. Rulers, such as Frontinus, as shown in Source 11 (46) had to make laws about water usage. Source 7 (44) shows an entire section of Hammurabi’s code dedicated to what should happen to a man if he does not properly canal or acts in an unjust manner with water usage. Not only did water affect technological developments and the economy, it also brought forth new areas in politics and laws.
Water greatly affected technological, economic, political, and legal developments. Technology has to advance in order to get more water while the economy, politics, and laws began to change due to the need for more water, and to this day it has had a lasting effect. Water will always play a major role in our past, present, and future.
The first civilization to rise was the Mesopotamia, located in present day Iraq, between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, and Egypt, along the Nile River. It’s split in two ecological zones. In the south Babylonia (irrigation is vital) and north Assyria (agriculture is possible with rainfall and wells). By 4000 B.C.E., people had settled in large numbers in the river-watered lowlands of Mesopotamia and Egypt. Archaeologists have shown that large-scale irrigation appeared only long after urban civilization had already developed, meaning major waterworks were a consequence of urbanism (population). Mesopotamia cities were made of people called the Summerians in the land of Sumer located on the south of Babylonia. The Summerian city was one of
According to the quote, effects of the rising of the water were transportaion, food, and water. Transportaion for Mesopotamia was cruical because they (tribes and communitites) were often nomadic because the availability for food and water was limited. During this time period, food usually consisted of animals which included food such as meat and crops and the Nile River help supplied food and water.
The usage/control of waterways helped civilizations sprout in the past and in the present. Document 1 shows many examples of how control/usage of waterways helped sprout civilizations in the present and in the past. One example that is showed in document 1 is the Tigris and Euphrates River which helped civilizations sprout by providing hydraulic power and fresh water. Another example in document 1 is the Mekong River which helped civilizations sprout by the river provided irrigation to the crops. The next example from document 1 is the Yangtze River which helped civilizations sprout by it provided hydraulic power. Another example form document 1 is the Indus River which helped civilizations sprout by the river provides irrigation for the crops. The control/usage of the waterways give the essential’s for a civilization to start. In addition, the control/ usage of the waterways also made trade a lot easier.
Through radiocarbon dating early villages, there is a clear link between the end of the drought and the emergence of early civilizations. I strongly believe there is a connection between the end of the draught and emergence of a substantial civilization in Mesopotamia. The area became more hospitable after the drought and because of that, people were able to flourish and set roots. With agriculture, Mesopotamia grew into a larger civilization. Though the area didn’t have everything needed for a city, the people of Mesopotamia were very innovative; using mud to build their buildings since wood and stone materials were not
Water is one of the most important elements needed to sustain life. Some ancient civilizations struggled to maintain a steady supply of usable water, while others gained consistent access, and those that did, thrived. Nonetheless, these civilizations, whether they failed or succeeded, depended on water to drink and irritate their crops; without it, they suffered food shortages and famine. Ancient civilizations such as China, Egypt, Mesopotamia and Rome were among those whose advancement benefited from the successful cultivation of water. Even though man started out as hunters and gatherers, once knowledge about growing their own food and the domestication of plants occurred, civilizations are believed to have formed, and thus became dependent on agriculture and water. Water was the driving force of growth in ancient civilizations. A reliable source of water impacted the development of economies, drove religious views, shaped political and legal discussions and influenced the advancement of technologies in diverse civilizations that shared a common bond, the need for water to sustain life.
...hich they used for building structures like canals to channel water from mountain streams to the fields. The civilization of Aksum lasted over 800 years and the center of a massive trading empire which flourished in wealth.
... on the economy, environment and society. Everyone should judiciously use water in a sustainable community. Not everyone has the wherewithal to implement a home water filtration system which can remove hazardous chemicals such as chlorine, lead, asbestos, pharmaceuticals and pathogens from our drinking water. Industries and public should take it seriously and not consider profit alone as it goals. They should have ethical responsibility to reduce water pollution and conserve it. EPA and other water utilities board should strictly monitor and take action against violators. Water pollution abatement plans should be made and implemented.
It is absolutely crucial that any civilization tries to get control of the environment around them. If you begin an understanding of your surroundings it can be easier to tell when it will flood or when your crops will develop well. Unfortunately you can never fully control nature, it will always win the “battle”. Both societies believed if they upset their gods, it could affect their environment that they were living in. The Sumerians have to learn how to try to control the Tigris and Euphrates, because while you want them to flood yearly, leaving rich soil you also don’t want them to flood your entire village. Some of the development created to help with everyday living where the wheel, the sail, and the plow. The Egyptians also have to attempt to take control of the Nile, which is extremely powerful and unpredictable. In order to do this they dig a canal from the Nile to the Red Sea and have drain swamps for the farms. It may seem simple, but considering the lack of machinery they had this would have been extremely difficult. As I conclude my final topic you should notice that they both try to control water because it is the most valuable source when having a
Drinking water is essential and indispensable to life itself possible on the face of the earth, it is much more than a well, a resource, a commodity, drinking water is specifically a human right of first order and an element essential national sovereignty itself and, most likely, whoever controls the water control the economy and life in the not so distant future.
The Mesopotamia was in between to very important rivers, which were the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Being between two rivers had some advantages, as well as disadvantages. Some of the advantages meant that they could produce enough food to support the people that lived around that area. Some of the disadvantages were that they had some flood problems. Sometimes the rivers would over flow, which caused floods that destroyed crops and villages. Considering that their main source for anything was agriculture, floods really brought chaos. After some time the Mesopotamian people learned different ways
"Water Management in the Ancient World." Science and Its Times. Ed. Neil Schlager and Josh Lauer. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 2001. Student Resources in Context. Web. 4 Apr. 2014.
Ancient Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilizations would not be as successful as they were without living by the Tigris, Euphrates, and Nile rivers. Rivers shaped the development of civilization in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia by how they utilized the floods, what they traded, their views on religion, and controlling the rivers.
Aqueducts brought water to the city of Rome. Roman cities began to expand quickly, which means that it would become one of the most populated cities in the world. According to document five in the Remarkable Rome Packet, the emperor of Rome knows that water was scarce the Romans had to find a way to transport water into the cities so they built more than 200 aqueducts. Aqueducts went through mountains, cities, and towns. It brought so much water to the city citizens were able to bathe, and have clean drinking water just like modern day.
Because of the lack of rain, the Egyptians relied on the water from the Nile River, which flooded every year on schedule so people had to work together to build the canals, dikes, and many more devices just to cons...
Ancient Mesopotamia was one of the first of the ancient civilizations. It formed in present-day northeastern Egypt, in the Fertile Crescent. The Fertile Crescent is a crescent-shaped region of good farmland created by the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. The first people to settle in Mesopotamia made important contributions to the world, such as wheeled vehicles, and an early form of writing called Cuneiform. Later, the Phoenicians here developed an alphabet much like the one we use today. Also, the Sumerians of this region developed algebra and geometry. Most importantly, the Sumerians made extensive irrigation systems, dikes, and canals to protect their crops from floods. The Great Hammurabi of Babylon, another empire in the Fertile Crescent, made the Code of Hammurabi. It was the first significant set of laws in history. Also, the Hittites and the Lydians settled in Mesopotamia. The Hittites developed a way to produce strong plows and weapons. The Lydians created a system of coined money. The contributions from the region of Mesopotamia in ancient times are still used today and are very useful.