"Qanat Civilization"

by: Majid Labbaf Khaneiki , Ali Asghar Semsar Yazdi International Center on Qanats and Historic Hydraulic

Structures

?What is Qanat

Genesis of Qanat

Henry Goblot‘ Theory

In the wake of climate change, the precipitation reduced and accordingly many of the springs dried up or just trickled. In this situation the immediate reaction of the people might be to dig the same springs to track the water, and after a while they ended up building a long tunnel with some shaft wells through which they could better haul the.debris to the surface

Spring-Qanat Theory

Can We Deny Geographical Distribution of Qanat?

Iwao Kobori )I. Kobori, 1964( believes that the qanat system, in all probability, developed in ancient Persia some 2500 years ago and then spread to Afghanistan and eventually along the Silk road as far east as China, as well as by Arabic cultures to the far west including Morocco .and Spain

According to Goblot )H. Goblot, 1979(, qanats originated in the northwest of present Iran, dating back to 600-800 B.C. In 525 BC qanats were introduced to the southern coast of the Persian Gulf and then in 500 BC to Egypt, in 750 AD to Spain, in 850 AD to Southern Algeria, in 1520 AD to Mexico & Los Angeles, in 1540 AD to Pica in .)Chile and in 1780 AD to Turfan )NW China

A Historical Evidence on Qanat Diffusion According to Darius’s order, Silaks the naval commander of the Persian army and Khenombir the royal architect managed to construct a qanat in the oasis of Kharagha’ in Egypt.

Social Aspects of QanatWater Division System in Qanat

Position of Qanat in “Water-Power” Arguments

Water and Oriental Despotism

Footprint of Water in Socio-Political Attitude

Ancient Egypt

Ancient Greece

,In contrast to Wittfogel’s theoryAdams explains that in Mesopotamia large waterworks are developedlong after the state

A Hole in Wittfogel‘s Theory

The management of qanat in arid and semi arid lands is as accurate and intricate as that of the big rivers, but it has never led to what Wittfogel says.about the relationship between water and power

Qanat irrigation did not give rise to a tyrant taking control of water and accordingly agricultural production systems,… because

Qanat civilization enjoyed some characteristics which signify a civilization in sharp contrast to what Wittfogel portrays, A civilization which did not accommodate any despotism in order to draw on the resources of the other nations or individuals. Qanat civilization was the civilization of peace, cooperation and.friendly coexistence

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