Source of Life: Water Management in the Premodern Middle East
NYUAD Institute
English - January 05, 2024 15:46 - 45 minutes - 52 MB - ★★★★★ - 1 ratingEducation Homepage Download Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Previous Episode: Cooling the Arab Gulf: How Air-Conditioning Changed Everything
In the challenging climatic conditions of the Middle East, providing clean water has always been a significant concern. Yet, ancient cities like Abbasid Baghdad and Mamluk Cairo effectively supplied water to their populations. This talk explores these historical achievements, shedding light on the often misunderstood institutional strengths in the premodern Middle East. The discussion focuses on the diverse water systems in place and the reasons behind their sustainability.
Speaker
Maaike van Berkel, Professor of Medieval History, Radboud University