Water and Historic Settlements: The Making of a Cultural Landscape

This book explores how human societies understood and managed scarce water resources in the arid, rain shadow region of Marathwada, highlighting its role in establishing political authority region, marking the intersection of trade and pilgrimage networks, and carrying identity through community memories. It analyzes textual and archaeological sources, oral narratives, and how water has been framed in human history as a ritual, allegorical element, and physical presence. It will be of interest to scholars and researchers in environmental history, historical geography, South Asian studies, heritage studies, and environmental studies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 136 pages
Publication date: 13 September 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This captivating book delves into the intricate ways in which human societies have comprehended and managed their limited water resources, particularly in the arid and rain shadow region of Marathwada. It offers a comprehensive historical account of the region's most valuable resource—water, spanning from ancient times to the present. Through meticulous research, the book vividly portrays how water has played a pivotal role in shaping political authority, facilitating trade networks, and fostering a sense of identity within communities through collective memories.

What sets this book apart is its insightful exploration of water as a multifaceted entity, transcending the boundaries of caste, sect, and religion. It highlights how water, as a material, ritual, and symbolic element, unites communities and connects the past with the present. By examining a range of textual and archaeological sources, as well as oral narratives, the book offers alternative perspectives on the historical and cultural landscape of Ellora-Khuldabad-Daulatabad. Moreover, it sheds light on how water has been perceived and utilized throughout human history, from its ritualistic significance in pilgrimage centers to its manipulation through human technology for population sustenance.

In essence, this book provides a nuanced and comprehensive history of water, making it an invaluable resource for scholars and researchers in environmental history, historical geography, South Asian studies, heritage studies, and environmental studies. Its insights into the complex relationship between water, society, and history offer valuable perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing contemporary societies in managing their water resources.

Weight: 440g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367723682