Studies in ancient technology / R.J. Forbes

T.II: Irrigation and dreinage, power land transport and road building... - 2ª ed. - 1965. - VI, 220 p.CHAPTER I. IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE. - Introduction. - Systems of irrigation. - Irrigation and ancient society. - The beginnings of irrigation. - Terrace irrigation in Antiquity. - Irrigation in ancient India. - Irrigation in ancient China. - Irrigation in ancient Mesopotamia. - irrigation of ancient Egypt. - Methods of raising water. - Irrigation and drainage in the classical world. - Irrigation and drainage in the Middle Ages. - Dikes, windmills and sluices. CHAPTER II. POWER. - Introduction. - Slaves and harnessed animals. - The Greek or Norse mill and the water-turbine. - The horizontal water-mill. - The introduction of the corn-mill. - Obstacles retarding the introduction of the water-mill. - The paddle wheel and the floating mill. - The introduction and specialisation of the water-mill. - The windmills of the East. - The evolution of the Western mill. CHAPTER III. LAND TRANSPORT AND ROAD-BUILDING. - Introduction. - Land-traffic in the Persian Empire. - Traffic in the Greek world. - Evolution of the Roman roads. - Roman materials and road-constructions. - Control and finaning of roads and traffic. - Roads and traffic in the Middle Ages. - City streets and urban traffic. CHAPTER IV. THE COMING OF THE CAMEL. - Introduction and natural history. - The case for Egypt. - The case for Norther Africa. - The case for Palestine and Syria. - The case for Mesopotamia. - The case for Arabia. - Conclusions.