Similarities of Minoan and Indus Valley Hydro-Technologies

Abstract

This review evaluates Minoan and Indus Valley hydro-technologies in southeastern Greece and Indus Valley Pakistan, respectively. The Minoan civilization first inhabited Crete and several Aegean islands shortly after the Late Neolithic times and flourished during the Bronze Age (ca 3200–1100 BC). At that time, the Minoan civilization developed fundamental technologies and reached its pinnacle as the first and most important European culture. Concurrently, the Indus Valley civilization populated the eastern bank of the Indus River, its tributaries in Pakistan, and the Ganges plains in India and Nadia (Bangladesh), spreading over an area of about one million km2. Its total population was unknown; however, an estimated 43,000 people resided at Harappa. The urban hydro-technologies, characteristics of a civilization can be determined by two specific aspects, the natural and the social environment. These two aspects cover a variety of factors, such as climate and social conditions, type of terrain, water supply, agriculture, water logging, sanitation and sewerage, hygienic conditions of communities, and racial features of the population. Therefore, these factors were used to understand the water resources management practices in early civilizations (e.g., Minoan and Indus Valley) and similarities, despite the large geographic distance between places of origin. Also discussed are the basic principles and characteristics of water management sustainability in both civilizations and a comparison of basic water supply and sanitation practices through the long history of the two civilizations. Finally, sustainability issues and lessons learned are considered.

Egyptian and Greek Water Cultures and Hydro-Technologies in Ancient Times

“…3200-1350 BC). They established water structures, such as aqueducts, cisterns, filters, settling pools, rainfall-collecting systems, ceramic pipes for water supply and sewage, and the drainage systems [17]. The communication of Minoans with Egypt intensified from the period of the first palaces (ca.…”

“…The shadouf had a bucket and rope attached to the one end of a wooded arm with a counterbalance at the other end of the arm as seen in Figure 3. This device typically lifted water up to 1.5 m. One shadouf could irrigate approximately 0.12 ha of land in 12 h. Sustainability 2020, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW 7 of 26 such as aqueducts, cisterns, filters, settling pools, rainfall-collecting systems, ceramic pipes for water supply and sewage, and the drainage systems [17]. The communication of Minoans with Egypt intensified from the period of the first palaces (ca.…”

“…Those who attempted this retrospect, based on archaeological, historical and technical evidence, were impressed by the similarity of principles with present ones and the high level of water engineering and management practices in ancient civilizations, e.g., Egyptians and Greeks [6,16,92]. (g) To sum up, due to the shortage in the water demand worldwide and particularly in regions of the developing world, there is a great need for water supply and sanitation facilities with sustainable and cost-effective systems [17]. Adopting ancient water supply management systems such as the storage of rainfall runoff facilities may be introduced as an effective solution for water scarcity.…”

Hydrology and water resources management in ancient India

“…During the Mauryan Empire (400-184 BCE), the emperor Chandragupta Maurya constructed Sudarsana dam in Girnar, Junagadh, Gujarat. Subsequent structural improvements involved the addition of conduits during the reign of Asoka the Great, by his provincial governor the "Yavana Administrator (Greek Administrator)", Tusaspha (Kielhorn, 1906;Shaw and Sutcliffe, 2001). In an excavation work conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) during 1951-1955, in Kumhrar (the site of ancient Pataliputra), which is a few miles south of Patna, Bihar, "a canal 45 feet broad 10 feet deep and traced up to the length of 450 feet" was found, which is possibly belonging to the Mauryan period.…”

Influencing Factors of a Sustainable Vegetable Choice. The Romanian Consumers’ Case

“…The idea of it has been used even in ancient societies [40] where the collective wellbeing was cherished. Sanitation and sewage systems, common bathrooms, and irrigation systems were sustainably designed by following the natural laws of physics and without harming the natural environment [41]. Unfortunately, the ancient knowledge of environmental harmony [42,43] was replaced by economic principles of productivity [44].…”