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2 - Technological Innovations Transfer through the Hyper-Arid Belt

from Part II - Technological Mobility and Transfers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2020

By
Mario Liverani
Edited by
C. N. Duckworth ,
A. Cuénod  and
D. J. Mattingly
C. N. Duckworth
Affiliation:
University of Newcastle upon Tyne
A. Cuénod
Affiliation:
University of Leicester
D. J. Mattingly
Affiliation:
University of Leicester
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Summary

The popular image of the Sahara Desert as something unchanging through time (oases with wells and palm-trees, interconnected by caravans of dromedaries and Tuareg Bedouins) is obviously contradicted by the evidence coming from the archaeological discoveries, and a long-term (and rather slow) process of technological change can be outlined – albeit in need of additional and more precise information. Local innovations, originating in the (Central) Saharan area itself are by no means to be underestimated. Also stimuli coming from the Mediterranean area and from the Nile valley prove quite important (also in the realm of socio-political organisation). However, several innovations in the basic realms of agriculture, animal husbandry and irrigation technology appear to have originated in the East Arabian area (Oman and surrounding countries), and to have been adopted in the Central Sahara only later, in some cases much later. The entire desert belt – from the Gulf area to the Atlantic shores – functioned as a kind of corridor for the east to west transfer of technologies especially appropriate to the hyper-arid climate.

Keywords

diffusioninnovationirrigation
Type
Chapter
Information
Mobile Technologies in the Ancient Sahara and Beyond , pp. 53 - 67
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2020

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