Qanat

The Point Where Three Qantas Meet - Image 2

Qanats - Brief Overview

The development of the qanat made by the Persians began around 3,000 years ago which was around 1,000 BC. Qanats were a series of underground wells that brought groundwater to the surface (Ahmadi, et al). The advancements of architecture in qanats provided cool water in the summer and warm water in the winter (Esmaeili). Qanats were needed in many ways in Persia including providing water for agricultural purposes and it provided clean drinking water for the Persians.

Impacts on Civilization

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One sustainable advancement of the qanat was that the groundwater was mostly safer because the wells were better protected from the elements and sediment and waste was uncommon to find in the wells of the qanat (Easton). Qanats provided an example for wells and irrigation systems years down the line to provide clean and sustainable water. Withdrawal of groundwater has caused lots of environmental problems, including drying of springs and water shortages in villages in south, and south eastern regions of Iran. This has caused more than 20,000 effective Qantas with very little water (Shahedi 94).

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Another sustainable advancement of Qanats were that they were and are still used for refuge to many aquatic animals including shrimp, crabs and fish. These species were able to thrive due to the cleanliness of the water (Esmaeili). Another way these species were able to survive in the qanats was by eating any algae and other organisms that could and would have affected the cleanliness of the water. Not only did qanats provide refuge they also did and still do provide sanctuary to aquatic species that will continue to thrive in the future.

Image showing how the Qanats worked underground - Image 5

How It Worked

Qanats work by gravity which takes water from an underground source, to a lower lying area through an underground tunnel. It consisted of long, gently sloped tunnels that connect to the surface by a series of vertical access shafts. Once the water has reached the outside world it is either collected for drinking and everyday use or distributed into irrigated land for agriculture.

Interesting Sites

The Qanat: A Living History in Iran - This book shows how the Qantas play a major role in water harvesting. It also shows how many Qantas have been abandoned and replaced by other methods over the past few decades. This book is great to learn more about Qantas history and how the modern world has replaced the Qantas.

Qanat system, an ancient water management system in Iran: History, architectural design and fish diversity - This article talks about were Qantas were located and where they spread to through out semi arid regions of the middle east. It also talks about the diffrent species of fish and aqutic specie sthat lived in the Qanats.

Museum "Rooms" - Every student in the group must create a Museum Room which should feature a specific invention or innovation for the team's civilization. Rooms should contain between 300 and 400 words of text, use in text citations or reference phrases as needed. (According to..., As found in...) and should present ALL of the following information:
- - Background information on why this invention or innovation was needed by this civilization
  - How was the invention made?
  - What impact did the invention have on this civilization?
  - What (if any) impact did the invention have on later civilizations?
  - What else made this invention so historically important?
  - At least two images relating to the invention and/or information on the page with identification numbers and captions explaining the images.
  - 3 to 5 links to other websites with related information and why a visitor might find them interesting

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