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[[File:Yemen landscape 05.jpg|thumbnail|left|Figure 1. Example of terraces in Arabia, perhaps similar to those developed already by the Neolithic]]__NOTOC__The history of water use and technologies to bring water to human societies is long, particularly in some of the world's most arid regions where human -settled societies first began. Technologies of water also Water technologies evolved as other technologies technology developed and , the social organization became more complex and states changeddeveloped. While we often think of Roman aqueducts as a great marvelmarvels, which they were, other complex water technologies, just as complex, existed beforemuch earlier.

====Early Canals====The earliest water technologies are likely to have been simple ditches or cuts made to irrigate fields. In the Near East, irrigation likely began soon after agriculture began to be developed.<ref>For examples and discussions of early irrigation systems, see: Mashkour, Marjan, Andrew M. Bauer, Tony J. Wilkinson, Nicholas Kouchoukos, and Abbas Alizadeh. 2004. “Human-Environment Interactions on the Upper Khuzestan Plains, Southwest Iran. Recent Investigations.” ''Paléorient 30'' (1): 69–88. doi:10.3406/paleo.2004.4773.</ref> Most likely these types of irrigation canals would be too small or small in scale to leave any major archaeological remains. Evidence of terrace agriculture from the Neolithic, however, suggests that water captured from the higher ground was beginning to be transferred to lower areas, including possibly using canals to move water (Figure 1). In China, similar Neolithic evidence has been found, showing that early villages sometimes had a relatively complex network of canals near village fields, where even field systems have been partially preserved. <ref>For an example of irrigation systems in Neolithic China, see: Hu, Linchao, Zhihong Chao, Min Gu, Fuchun Li, Lina Chen, Bending Liu, Xia Li, et al. 2013. “Evidence for a Neolithic Age Fire-Irrigation Paddy Cultivation System in the Lower Yangtze River Delta, China.” <i>Journal of Archaeological Science 40</i> (1): 72–78. doi:10.1016/j.jas.2012.04.021.</ref>

The earliest water technologies are likely to Wells would have been simple ditches or cuts made to irrigate fieldsalso constructed for ancient villages. In the Near Eastparticular, many early villages were located on hills or higher ground, irrigation likely began soon after agriculture began which allowed them to be developedbetter drained and avoid flooding in the wet seasons. Most likely these types <ref> For an example of irrigation canals would be too small or small in scale to leave any major archaeological remainsan early Neolithic well-based village and system, see: Garfinkel, Yosef, Ariel Vered, and Ofer Bar-Yosef. 2006. Evidence “The Domestication of terrace agriculture from the Water: The NeolithicWell at Sha’ar Hagolan, howeverJordan Valley, suggests that water captured from higher ground was beginning to be transferred to lower areasIsrael.” <i>Antiquity 80</i> (309): 686–96.</ref> However, including possibly using canals to move this created the problem of easily accessing water. In China, similar Neolithic evidence has been found, showing that early villages had sometimes a relatively complex network This led to the development of canals near village fieldswells, where even field systems have been partially preservedas water underneath these hilly areas could be easily accessed.

Wells would have been also constructed for early villages====Early Historical Societies====By the 4th and 3rd millennium BC, more complex societies developed with larger settlements. In particularin southern Mesopotamia (southern Iraq), many early villages were located on hills or higher ground, which allowed them to be better drained where we see the first cities form. <ref>For information about 4th millennium BC canals and avoid flooding irrigation in southern Mesopotamia, see: Wilkinson, T. J. 2003. ''Archaeological Landscapes of the wet seasonsNear East''. Tucson: University of Arizona Press, pg. 89. </ref> However, this created the problem region is very dry and depended heavily on two major rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates. Irrigation began to become more complex, with longer channels and managed by groups of easily accessing people at different points, including controlling sluices that would release waterto different areas. This led development is similar to the development Indus region along the Indian and Pakistani border, where the Indus river became important in dry regions as major cities developed. Similar types of canals to those of wellssouthern Mesopotamia seem to have developed, as water underneath these hilly areas could be easily accessedleading to also large cities by the 3rd millennium BC. <ref>For more information on irrigation in the Indus region, see: McIntosh, Jane. 2008. <i>The Ancient Indus Valley: New Perspectives.</i> ABC-CLIO’s Understanding Ancient Civilizations Series. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO, pg.115</ref>

By the 4th and 3rd millennium BCIn Arabia, more complex societies already new forms of water capturing technologies may have developed with larger settlements. In particular in southern Mesopotamia (southern Iraq), where we see This includes surface channels and dams to capture water from the first cities form. However, highlands and bring the water down to lowland region is very dry and depended heavily on two major rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates. Irrigation began to become more complex, with longer Some have suggested that underground channels and managed by groups of people at different points, including controlling sluices that would release water to different areas. This development is similar to the Indus region along the Indian and Pakistani bordercalled falaj/qanats, where the Indus river became important in dry regions as major cities were developed, but this is not universally accepted. Similar <ref>For information on early Arabian irrigation and types of canals to those features, see: al-Jahwari, Nasser Said. 2009. “The Agricultural Basis of southern Mesopotamia seem to have developed, leading to also large cities by Umm an-Nar Society in the 3rd millennium Northern Oman Peninsula (2500-2000 BC).” <i>Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy 20</i> (2): 122–33.</ref>

In Arabia, already new forms ====Iron and Irrigation Technology====[[File:Qanat.jpg|thumbnail|left|Figure 2. Qanata system (arrows) showing the access holes. Underneath lies a tunnel that would have carried water to agricultural fields.]]Probably one of the most important developments to enable more advanced water capturing technologies may have developedwas the development and use of iron. This includes surface channels The increasing sophistication of mathematics and dams to capture water from engineering by the highlands and bring 1st millennium BC, along with iron technology, enabled the water down next major phase of development for irrigation technologies to lowland regionoccur. With the use of iron, rock could be excavated more easily. Some have suggested that already underground channelsThis advance facilitated the development of more sub-surface irrigation features, called falaj/qanatsincluding tunnels and qanat systems (Figure 2), which were already developed, but this is not universally acceptedtunnels with access holes that brought water from highland regions to lowland areas.

==Iron These qanats also required a large amount of engineering, as channels had to be cut across mountains or difficult hilly areas, while channels were sometimes even cut from different areas and Irrigation Technology==were met some place in the middle. Surface channels cut into mountain rock were now also developed, which allowed the capture of water from elevated regions.

Probably one of the most important developments to enable more advanced water technologies was the development and use of iron. In fact, the increasing sophistication of mathematics and engineering by the 1st millennium BC, along with iron technology, enabled the next major phase of development for irrigation technologies to occur. With the use of iron, rock could be excavated more easily. This facilitated the development of more sub-surface irrigation features, including tunnels and qanat systems, which were essentially tunnels with access holes that brought water from highland regions to lowland areas. These qanats also required a large amount of engineering, as channels had to be cut across mountains or difficult hilly areas, while channels were sometimes even cut from different areas and were met some place in the middle. Surface channels cut into mountain rock were now also developed, which allowed the capture of water from elevated regions. These technologies appear to have developed perhaps in Anatolia, Iran, or Arabia, although the origins are not completely clear. During the <ref>For more information on these Iron Age (early 1st millennium BC)developments, see: Solomon, another important development occurredSteven. That is2011. <i>Water: The Epic Struggle for Wealth, Power, the development of aqueducts began to appearand Civilization</i>. New York: Harper Perennial. </ref> In fact, what is significant about qanat systems is they enable the Iranian plateau to be densely populated, setting up the first aqueduct we know foundation of developed in northern Iraqwhat would become a series of Iranian-based dynasties that occupied highland regions, just north of such as the city of MosulAchaemenids, Parthians, and Sasanians. This aqueductIn essence, part water technologies altered the path of history, as it enabled a region once sparsely populated to become more central for large canal system bringing water to states and develop more dense populations. <ref> For more information on the city role of Ninevehqanats in developing settled societies and empires, enabled water to be brought over different watershedssee: Christensen, Peter, and Steven Sampson. 2016. In other words<i>Decline of Iranshahr: Irrigation and Environment in the Middle East, it now allowed societies to build irrigation features that crossed natural elevation change that would have restricted where you could irrigate500 BC-AD 1500</i>. Copenhagen: Museum Tusculanum Press.</ref>

====Conclusion====Irrigation and water technologies have been critical to human societies for millennia. The first great use of water technologies probably began soon after the development of settled societies. However, as societies became more complex, that is larger cities developed, and technologies, such as iron, and mathematics improved, we begin . These developments allowed these civilizations to see far more sophisticated use of water technologiesin more sophisticated ways. In fact, qanats and aqueducts, both invented probably by It is arguable that irrigation technologies helped to encourage or speedup the Iron Age in the early 1st millennium BCdevelopment of complex, are still in use todaystate societies, showing the durability as it required a greater organization and control of this technologylabor. Some qanats and aquaducts used todayThe issue of water management, in factessence, date to the Roman periodbecomes critical or important for state development.

Furthermore, qanats and aqueducts, both invented probably by the Iron Age in the early 1st millennium BC, are still in use today, showing the durability of this technology. Some qanats and aqueducts used today, in fact, date to the Roman period. Similar to irrigation channels, qanats also had a major role in influencing societies, as it enabled regions of Iran and other areas that were more sparsely populated to become more greatly settled, changing the direction of history as Iranian-based empires began to become the norm. <div class="portal" style="width:85%;">====Related DailyHistory.org Articles==== *[[What was the dominant medical sect in the United States during the 19th Century?]]*[[How did illegal abortions spur the push for medical licensing in the 19th Century?]]*[[Social History of American Medicine Top Ten Booklist]]*[[Causes of World War II Top Ten Booklist]]*[[Gilded Age/Progressive Era History Top Ten Booklist]]*[[Nature's Path: Interview with Susan E. Cayleff]]</div> ====References====