Deserts, grasslands and large stretches of mountainous forests can only begin to describe the various landscapes that cover the MENA region. Despite this diversity the climate is overall relatively inhospitable to human life with access to water being the major limiting factor. This may led one to wonder how exactly societies arose from such conditions. In what ways have natural water resources been manipulated and in what ways can human management of water influence social, economic, and political spheres of life?

This course explores the regulated usage of water across the MENA region including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, Palestine/Israel, Syria, Iran, and Iraq. We start with the ancient water harvesting techniques that allowed settlement in the drylands of the Mediterranean. These practices in turn influenced the cultural and social organization within these settlements. We will explore the sustainability of traditional water management by investigating how conditions have stressed these practices. Also we will discuss the ways in which modernization of these policies have affected health, poverty, and societal structure throughout time.

If you are interested in exploring how water management facilitated the development of societies within the MENA region please consider taking this DeCal!
If you'd like to enroll or have any questions please email me at saldabyani@berkeley.edu

If you'd like to enroll or have any questions please email me at saldabyani@berkeley.edu