Early Civilizations And Water Management - 1584 Words

#1. Water is the mainspring of civilization. This was recognized at the dawn of civilization in Mesopotamia and Egypt. Water was conceived as the source of all things, eternal and primeval. In Mesopotamia, Iraq, the god of water, Enki, was entrusted with me, the universal law governing all existence. Enki, whose mother Nammu was no less than the goddess of wisdom, poured water to make the earth fruitful, stocked marshes with fish, and erected sheepfolds. Wisely, he also appointed special deities to oversee his works and innovations. This early recognition of the link between water management and civilization is the subject of this article. My aim is to clarify how the development of early civilizations and water management has evolved together with mutual interactions. I will argue that water shortages are nothing new, and that throughout the history of our common human civilization various solutions were implemented to overcome water scarcities and enhance water security. However, I will submit that such solutions were always short-lived a temporary relief because the social and cultural consequences of each solution led to a gradual, cumulative increase in the demand for water. Civilizations are constrained directly by the quality and quantity of available safe drinking and subsistence water. They are also constrained indirectly by the influence of water on food, energy, transportation, and industry. Human societies have throughout history found new means to secureShow MoreRelatedWater Is The Mainspring Of Civilization1583 Words   |  7 PagesWater is the mainspring of civilization. This was recognized at the dawn of civilization in Mesopotamia and Egypt. Water was conceived as the source of all things, eternal and primeval. In Mesopotamia, Iraq, the god of water, Enki, was entrusted with me, the universal law governing all existence. Enki, whose mother Nammu was no less than the goddess of wisdom, poured water to make the earth fruitful, stocked marshes with fish, and erected sheepfolds. Wisely, he also appointed special deities toRead MoreCivilization : A World Without Civilization954 Words   |  4 PagesCivilization After being asked the question â€Å"What is Civilization?† I began to consider what civilization meant to me, and what could it have meant for millions of people in the past. Prior to beginning History 101, if you had asked me my views on civilization, it would have been a lot different than it is now. Before, I hadn’t really considered a world without civilization, the idea seems so foreign to us, modern day humans. A world with no cities, no towns, and no production or consumption? ItRead More Culture and Technology - Tools to Aid in Survival Essay1218 Words   |  5 Pagesfood was not easy. â€Å"The most vital need of early man in regions of scanty rainfall such as the Near East is water.† (Drower, 520). Because this was the most difficult challenge facing them, from an early stage the people who populated the area must have focused on developing effective farming practices. For them, there was probably little else that was as important as water. Because of this, the cultures of peoples in the area centered around the water. Everything was defined by the river. TheRead MoreTaking a Look at Ancient Egypt1181 Words   |  5 PagesThe first ever civilization in Africa was in Egypt along the river Nile. This civilization later spread to the other parts of Africa. The emergence of civilization in Africa provided a framework for most of developments in African history. There were different setups cultural and political aspects when civilization was emerging. The Egyptian civilization was the earliest and it was one of the catalysts in the development of civilization in other parts of Africa. The civilization began around 3000Read MoreWater Is The Driving Force Of All Nature Essay967 Words   |  4 Pages â€Æ' Abstract (.5) Introduction Water: The Earth is covered by 1,386 million cubic kilometers of it, encompassing about 71% of Earth’s surface (a cubic kilometer of water equals about 264 billion gallons) (USGS). Water is one of the most important compounds for life, being used by the cells and tissues of living beings, driving chemical and physical processes on Earth such as erosion and many elemental cycles, and regulating Earth’s climate. Life may even have originatedRead MoreHistory And Geography Of Morocco1155 Words   |  5 Pagesdiverse country with a strong culture. Morocco had a hard time in establishing its independence, but its unique culture helped it to establish its own civilization . The Berbers ruled Morocco and the west coast countries of North Africa. The Berbers are a civilization of nomadic Christian, Pagan, and tribal people. Morocco was invaded constantly in its early stages. In the 12th century the Phoenicians invaded and established trading posts. The Phoenician settlement s were occupied by the CarthaginianRead MoreFlorence Nightingale s Lessons For Global Health Nursing1197 Words   |  5 Pagesprovided medical care, water and sanitation services, not just to the Ethiopian people, but also to the South Sudanese refugees in Pagak and Matar transit centres as well as in Letchuor, Kule and Tierkidi refugee camps and in Itang (MSF, 2014; Web). The purpose of this paper is to discuss Florence Nightingale s ((1820-1910) theories in the context of the MSF cholera immunization program in Ethiopia’s Gambella region, focusing on the links between the issues of health, water, sanitation, and preventionRead MoreThe Last Day of Humanity767 Words   |  3 Pagesweight of progress, of advancement, of humanity. It is the fire that has burned in man’s heart since the dawn of civilization; a cunning tactician smiling to himself as humanity wins its battles. Purpose has driven us from the first fire to the final frontier; it is the father of civilization. Humanity advanced, quickly. With basic survival and a functioning society fulfilled, civilization sped up. Distances became shorter, entertainment became quicker, and life became busy. With life moving quicklyRead MoreThe Culture Of The Egyptian Culture1354 Words   |  6 Pagesconsequence on the environment of Egypt and the society. The Nile River has portrayed a huge role in Egypt throughout history. Historically the Egyptians were among the first to record data from the Nile River. The Nile River has served as a supply of water, food, and transportation for centuries. The northward-flowing river starts 100 miles south of the Mediterranean Sea and extends out 155 miles between the cities of Port Said and Alexandria. The basin irrigation escalated from the ancient time, whichRead MoreThe Impact Of Fishing On The Service Of Industrialization1066 Words   |  5 Pagesbeen doing since early civilization. It evolved from a social need to currently also one of commercial interest2. As Cochrane and Garcia (2009) describe it so nicely: â€Å"†¦the commoditization of nature in the service of industrialization.† After years of perceived growth, it is now evident that globally countries suffer from the negative effects that we people have ourselves helped create. The introduction starts with a background and relates the complexity of fisheries management from a global level