Water systems were key to the economical, technological, and political development of ancient societies, which developed water machines to carry water to their lands and use as irrigation and water supply. Water usage was so important that it had a prominent role in laws of many early societies, making control of water more significant than land itself. Irrigation was able to make the land so fertile that the societies became richer and powerful. Successful irrigation could bring glory and power to rulers who controlled it. Thus, the water system was a key point for the economical, technological, and political development of the ancient societies.
Emerged around rivers, (Mesopotamia around Tigris and Euphrates, Egyptians around the Nile, Rome
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Although extremely disorganize as showed in source 2 (Map), it indicates how well developed was the engineering of the irrigation ditches at that time, since it was able to spread water to the entire Mesopotamia. Basin irrigation and perennial irrigation was one of the techniques that the Mesopotamians and Egyptians civilizations used to fight against dry seasons; since they did not have frequently rainfalls, they begun to build dikes around the canals and also to build waterways between their fields to carry water from the river to the cities. During spring and flood time, they could rely on gravity to bring water to the lands or use lift-machines to do the work. These machines had a historic mark for the advance of the technology because it showed different ways of engineering, which transformed the ways of living of the societies. Although machines such as Shaduf (source 4 works of …show more content…
Although both Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilizations lean on different river floods they had similar water system. As showed in source 2 (Major Ancient Levees Identifiable in LANDSAT Imagery) the Mesopotamia had a spread irrigation system that could reach the entire civilization, so everyone could use water to increase their income with agriculture. The lifting machine that the early societies used to their water supply and irrigation system also reveal a large amount of information about their economy; source 5 (Saqiya) and 7 (Noria) shows that the machines did not required any kind of labor, thus not taking people away from their jobs (that they could actually be paid), the sources also shows that the materials required to build each machine is cheap and easy to operate; once again leading the irrigation system and the water supply available for everyone especially for those seeking farming purposes; source 8 (Sections from the Code of Hammurabi Referring to Irrigation, 1750 B.C.E.) indicates that Hammurabi, the king of Mesopotamia, established some taxes over water making the Mesopotamian and the civilization much powerful economically. Water also helped Rome to develop their economy, source 10 (Suetonius´s Description of the Water Projects Undertaken by Emperor Claudius) express how the emperor
...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.
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.
...dant amount of flash floods. This lies in contrast to Egypt, which received even less rainfall than Mesopotamia, and was thus totally dependent on the Nile for watering crops. The Nile River flooded regularly, allowing for easy basin irrigation. Lastly, Rome, in contrary to Egypt, grew up on the banks of a river, the Tiber, but substantial amounts of natural rainfall in the area made extensive irrigation for agriculture purposes unnecessary. Rome’s primary water issue was the lack of good drinking water; the Tiber was often brackish and unpleasant, so the Romans had to build aqueducts. All of these civilizations had a separate and distinct relationship with water, and thus each had their own way of dealing with its conditions.
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
...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.
The ancient cultures of Mesopotamia and Egypt developed into successful civilizations. One civilization the Egyptians developed was in the Nile River valley. Based off the "Mesopotamia and Egypt DBQ" packet, "Ancient Egypt was an advanced civilization in many areas including religion, architecture, transportation, and trade. Ancient Mesopotamia was one of the first civilizations that developed a form of government as well as organized people in political states." Based on the documents, Egypt and Mesopotamia developed into successful and advanced civilizations by effectively using the resources that surrounded them to solve problems and live happily.
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.
Egypt and Mesopotamia were two of the world’s earliest city-based civilizations, creating the basis for Middle Eastern and Western history. Both Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilizations existed on the banks of major rivers. While Egyptian civilization thrived along the Nile, Mesopotamia settled between the Tigris and the Euphrates. Although they shared this characteristic, it was also the cause of many of their differences in political systems, religions, and social stability.
Approximately 5500 years ago four of the worlds' most prestigious ancient river civilizations had emerged. Our world has been left in astonishment and awe wondering how these civilizations were developed. Egypt and Mesopotamia were the first ancient river civilizations to create cities and their own ways of living. Society, geography, and religion played an enormous role in the development of the ancient cities. Although there is evidence of early Sumerian contact with the Egyptians, Egypt's civilization was largely self-generated and its history and cultural patterns differed from Mesopotamia.
The factors of irrigation, inherent topography, and useful bronze-age technical innovations paved the way for the agricultural revolution to occur in the land of Sumer and Akkad. The people of the Tigris and the Euphrates basin, the ancient Sumerians, using the fertile land and the abundant water supply of the area, developed sophisticated irrigation systems and created what was probably the first cereal agriculture. This historical factor resulted in an excess of production of cereals, dates, and other commodities. The consequence of excess is the emergence of a productive peasant agricultural system and a redistributive economy that fuels the progress of civilization.
Natural river irrigation shaped the early landscape of ancient Egypt. Drainage was not required for the Valley to become liveable. With the natural flooding and draining of the floodplain, the annual flood allowed a single crop-season over two-thirds of the alluvial ground. Once the main canals, many of them natural, were in place, they just had to be scoured yearly to prevent their clogging up. The levees had to be raised, and smaller ditches had to be re-excavated.
Since civilization was born in ancient Mesopotamia thousands of years ago, technology has been a driving factor in the growth and progress of the peoples of this region. Many of the new and changing technologies have been closely connected to the weather and climate of this unique part of the world. In my opinion, the three most important technological developments for Mesopotamia and Iraq over time have been irrigation, shelter and architecture, and the use of oil.
One very important advancement was the irrigation system. This system supplies dry land with water by means of ditches, pipes, or st...
Providing extremely fertile soil is one, if not the most important, roles the Nile River played in the life of the ancient Egyptians. By providing fertile soil, the Nile made it easy for cities and civilizations to grow alongside the banks of the river. This fertile soil comes from the annual flooding of the Nile. This replenishes the top soil with silt deposits that hold much needed nutrients for crops to grow. Ancient Egyptians developed highly complex irrigation methods to maximize the effect of the Nile waters. When the Nile overflows in mid summer, Egyptians divert the waters through the use of canals and dams. As the water seeped into the farm land, rich deposits of silt ensured a good harvest for the year. This allows the civilizations of Egyptians to grow enough food to feed the community. Without the annual flooding of the Nile, Egyptians would have a very difficult time growing necessary amount food to sustain life. Most of the land in the Egyptian nation is dry desert. Very little rain falls year round here. The river provides the needed water to grow the crops as well as provide drinking water for the people. Th...
In developing countries, passing along technical information for maintaining pumps and sanitizing the local water supply will help not only relieve the burden of responsibility, but allow them to maintain a constant supply. Factories and cleaning facilities establish jobs and financial stability when in the right hands. Knowledge of finances and business will help establish revenue and economic stimulation, thus allowing for better technology for survival in the future. Technological innovations in developed and developing countries will allow war-torn states to have more access to water than previously known.... ...