Water Is The Mainspring Of Civilization - 1583 Words

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 MoreRelatedEarly Civilizations And Water Management1584 Words   |  7 Pages#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 deitiesRead MoreHistory of Time Telling Machines972 Words   |  4 Pagesvaried. The clock’s shell is usually made out of brass, copper, tin or zinc. After the shell is molded the components of the clock are assembled; significant working parts including the face, arms, power source, gear train, escapement, wheels, mainspring, pendulum and quartz are all carefully placed according to specifications of manufacturers (about.com 2014). Some clocks are bigger in size, enough to be used on towers for the busy town or city to use. There are smaller clocks for desks and sideRead MoreHow The Watch Evolved From Portable Spring Powered Clocks1930 Words   |  8 Pageshave used the su n, stars, flow of water, burning of candles, sand, mechanical devices, and many other ways for their search to discover the most accurate way in time measurement. Time is measured using a sexagesimal system, a numeral system with sixty as its base, discovered around the third millennium BCE. This was first developed by the ancient Sumerians of Mesopotamia, used to measure time, angles, and geographical coordinates. As other ancient civilizations adopted this method, their involvement