Exploration of the role of water in the development of human civilization, focusing on three key periods: prehistory, the rise of scientific advancements, and the future of water management. Students will critically examine historical narratives and language, challenge Eurocentric views, and investigate the contributions of non-western cultures to water systems.
Athena Title
Water and Civilization
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall and spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student learning Outcomes
Students will explore how groundwater has influenced the development of civilizations, with a focus on its role in shaping societies throughout history and across different cultures.
Students will develop practical solutions to current groundwater challenges, with an emphasis on sustainable management and long-term environmental responsibility.
Students will investigate how various cultures, including indigenous communities, understand and manage groundwater, recognizing the diversity of practices and beliefs involved.
Students will examine how technological advances have changed groundwater exploration and management and assess their societal and environmental effects.
Students will compare groundwater management strategies across different regions, considering their social, economic, and environmental implications on a global scale.
Topical Outline
Topic 1: Introduction to Water and Civilization
-Basics and principles of the water cycle and the science of water
-The central role of water in the development and progression of human societies
-The interdisciplinary nature of water (history, science, and culture)
Topic 2: Age One - Prehistoric Water Management
-Early human interactions with water
-Case studies from Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Indus Valley
-Cultural and spiritual significance of water in early civilizations
Topic 3: Agricultural Revolution and Water Control
-Water Infrastructure, irrigation, and economic growth
Topic 4: Age Two: Rise of Scientific Progress
-Greek and Roman advancements in water management and systems
-Impacts of advancements in modern society
Topic 5: Middle Ages and Non-European Cultures
-Water and language in Islamic, Chinese, and Mesoamerican civilizations
-The transfer of water knowledge across cultures and time
Topic 6: Age Three: Industrial Revolution and Modern Era
-Technological advances in water systems
-The environmental consequences of industrial rise and urbanization
Topic 7: Modern Water Crisis and Global Systems
-The current state of global water resources: scarcity, pollution, and inequality
-The impacts of climate change on the water cycle
-Political, economic, and social factors influencing water resources
Topic 8: Cultural Perspectives on Water
-Importance of culture and community values in water governance
-Citizen science and awareness
-Indigenous water management practices and approaches
Topic 9: The Future of Water
-Global perspectives on the future of water
-Water security and the role of policy
Institutional Competencies Learning Outcomes
Social Awareness & Responsibility
The capacity to understand the interdependence of people, communities, and self in a global society.
