Water Architecture: Persia and the world 2000 BCE- 1500 CE

By outlining the expression of Water or Hydraulic Civilization, its meanings and functions, this module introduces the relationships between human civilization and water resources. Among ancient civilizations, the role played by Persia in the invention and dissemination of water architecture knowledge is widely recognized. Yet even if Persia has long been regarded as an important cradle for the development of irrigation and other water works, few systematic studies have been made of the history of these systems over long spans of time. This module of 4 lectures aims to identify the integration between water and architecture at different scales by focusing on Persia. The module gathers materials from the archeology and historiography of traditional water infrastructures in this region, from pre-historic to medieval era and traces the history of architecture and urbanism intertwined with water. The module determines the various aspects of water architecture, from religion to social functions and from technology to environment, in relation with public space and individual life.