The mathematics of canal construction in the kingdoms of Larsa and Babylon

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Standard

The mathematics of canal construction in the kingdoms of Larsa and Babylon. / Middeke-Conlin, Robert William.

In: Water History, Vol. 12, No. 1, 2020, p. 105-128.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Harvard

Middeke-Conlin, RW 2020, 'The mathematics of canal construction in the kingdoms of Larsa and Babylon', Water History, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 105-128. https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs12685-020-00243-7

APA

Middeke-Conlin, R. W. (2020). The mathematics of canal construction in the kingdoms of Larsa and Babylon. Water History, 12(1), 105-128. https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs12685-020-00243-7

Vancouver

Middeke-Conlin RW. The mathematics of canal construction in the kingdoms of Larsa and Babylon. Water History. 2020;12(1):105-128. https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs12685-020-00243-7

Author

Middeke-Conlin, Robert William. / The mathematics of canal construction in the kingdoms of Larsa and Babylon. In: Water History. 2020 ; Vol. 12, No. 1. pp. 105-128.

Bibtex

@article{9551161fbfc64739809f93d63ca0a8a7,
title = "The mathematics of canal construction in the kingdoms of Larsa and Babylon",
abstract = "Mathematical texts describing canal construction and maintenance abound in ancient Mesopotamia, where irrigation was vital to crop production. Indeed, this land{\textquoteright}s survival was dependent upon irrigated agriculture. Intensification required new canals, which required the mobilization of significant resources. Old canals required maintenance, or they would silt up. This required planning and so surveyors and administrators needed to learn mathematical processes involved in planning and maintaining irrigation works. This paper examines these mathematical processes. It explores both mathematical texts from the Old Babylonian period (the beginning of the second millennium BCE in southern Iraq), as well as mathematical processes witnessed in administrative texts that deal with irrigation and excavation. It will be seen how well mathematical texts reflected administrative practice when it comes to canal maintenance.",
author = "Middeke-Conlin, {Robert William}",
year = "2020",
doi = "10.1007%2Fs12685-020-00243-7",
language = "English",
volume = "12",
pages = "105--128",
journal = "Water History",
issn = "1877-7236",
publisher = "Springer",
number = "1",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - The mathematics of canal construction in the kingdoms of Larsa and Babylon

AU - Middeke-Conlin, Robert William

PY - 2020

Y1 - 2020

N2 - Mathematical texts describing canal construction and maintenance abound in ancient Mesopotamia, where irrigation was vital to crop production. Indeed, this land’s survival was dependent upon irrigated agriculture. Intensification required new canals, which required the mobilization of significant resources. Old canals required maintenance, or they would silt up. This required planning and so surveyors and administrators needed to learn mathematical processes involved in planning and maintaining irrigation works. This paper examines these mathematical processes. It explores both mathematical texts from the Old Babylonian period (the beginning of the second millennium BCE in southern Iraq), as well as mathematical processes witnessed in administrative texts that deal with irrigation and excavation. It will be seen how well mathematical texts reflected administrative practice when it comes to canal maintenance.

AB - Mathematical texts describing canal construction and maintenance abound in ancient Mesopotamia, where irrigation was vital to crop production. Indeed, this land’s survival was dependent upon irrigated agriculture. Intensification required new canals, which required the mobilization of significant resources. Old canals required maintenance, or they would silt up. This required planning and so surveyors and administrators needed to learn mathematical processes involved in planning and maintaining irrigation works. This paper examines these mathematical processes. It explores both mathematical texts from the Old Babylonian period (the beginning of the second millennium BCE in southern Iraq), as well as mathematical processes witnessed in administrative texts that deal with irrigation and excavation. It will be seen how well mathematical texts reflected administrative practice when it comes to canal maintenance.

U2 - 10.1007%2Fs12685-020-00243-7

DO - 10.1007%2Fs12685-020-00243-7

M3 - Journal article

VL - 12

SP - 105

EP - 128

JO - Water History

JF - Water History

SN - 1877-7236

IS - 1

ER -

ID: 276165263