![]() In this regard, an understanding of water-society systems in the past can assist us in forming the present, as well as shaping the future. Today’s Iran, however, faces significant challenges in managing its water resources, some of which are rooted in the past. Over millenniums, Iranians have practiced different strategies to rationally link between water availability (surface water and groundwater), spatiotemporal requirements, geoclimatic conditions, cultural values, legal rights, technological tools, political power, and socioeconomic privileges. The development of water resources has always occurred concurrently with societal development, and both actions have been influenced by time, geography, and climate.ĭue to Iran’s geographical location, climate variations, and unequal distribution of water resources, developing water resources has always been challenging, intertwined with various natural and anthropogenic factors. Humans, in turn, have actively managed, governed, and ultimately developed water resources by implementing structural and non-structural measures and a set of rules, practices, and processes. It has always formed and transformed societies, economic structures, demographic dynamics, political systems, and cultural makeup, causing harmony or tension. Water is fundamental to life and health, food security, economic expansion, social development, political stability, and ecosystem preservation. Therefore, before current problems worsen, it is essential to integrate traditional and modern water cultures, technology, and management techniques. The water sectors face more severe challenges when ancient water systems are ignored, applied without enhancement, or blindly adopted from other nations. As seen today in Iran, the Iranians have been unable to thrive on their resources since the Mongol invasion due to weak water governance, political tensions, and poor public support. Throughout the Islamic Golden Age, Iranians successfully traded water knowledge with other nations. Chaotic Iran, however, endured severe water-related weaknesses in the Late Sassanids. ![]() The Sassanids, like the Achaemenids, formed a powerful statement of unity, cooperation, and support among people for implementing their major water-related plans after enhancing institutions, laws, and communications. After a slump during the Seleucids (312–63 BC) and the Parthians (247 BC–224 AD), Iranians practiced water governance reborn under the Sassanids (224–651 AD). In 550 BC, the Achaemenids initiated a fundamental transformation in Iran’s water history by building dams, qanats, and water canals under a centralized administration. Despite doubts about the qanat’s origin, archaeological investigations indicate in the proto-historical period, qanat systems existed in Iran and the Arabian Peninsula. According to the findings, in prehistoric Iran, drought, flooding, river course changes, and the absence of a central government severely impacted water development. After gathering, contextualizing, verifying, clustering, coding, and corroborating sources, we conducted a historical study to examine the relationship between water and Iranians from prehistoric times to the Islamic Golden Age (1219 AD). Since past and present water-related challenges share similar origins and patterns, addressing the past is imperative. Despite Iran’s longstanding reputation for sustainable water management, the country currently faces mounting water-related challenges caused by population growth, industrial development, urban sprawl, lifestyle changes, climate change, territorial conflicts, poor management, and insufficient public participation.
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