Large-scale water management projects in Roman Central-Southern Italy

Keenan-Jones, D. (2013) Large-scale water management projects in Roman Central-Southern Italy. In: Harris, W.V. (ed.) The Ancient Mediterranean Environment between Science and History. Series: Columbia studies in the classical tradition (39). Brill: Leiden, pp. 233-256. ISBN 9789004253438 (doi: 10.1163/9789004254053_011)

Abstract

This chapter considers two case studies, both involving inter-basin transfers of water, in order to investigate elite Roman attitudes towards the use of water resources, particularly their attitudes towards deleterious consequences of such use on other communities and the wider environment. Before turning to the case studies, the chapter considers how hydrological cycle has changed in Central-Southern Italy since antiquity so that we can make use of modern data, and also the usage and legal control of water in rural areas. The chapter seems that the Roman elite around the turn of the era was prepared to consider, and to execute, plans involving large-scale alteration to the hydrologic landscape in order to benefit coastal urban centres and to serve imperial aims. Thus the history of water management in Central-Southern Italy shows the persistent influence of Roman technical achievements and thought right through to the early 20th century.

• Item Type: Book Sections
• Status: Published
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Keenan-Jones, Dr Duncan
• Authors: Keenan-Jones, D.
• College/School: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Humanities > Classics
• Publisher: Brill
• ISBN: 9789004253438