Supplying a medieval metropolis: water management and agriculture in the hinterland of early Islamic Basra

Abstract Following its foundation in the 630s CE, medieval Basra rapidly expanded to became one of most populous cities southern Iraq and wider Gulf region. At foundation, city’s surrounding environment appears have been poorly suited sustaining a large urban population. This paper examines different ways which early Islamic population transformed immediate environs city improve water supply agricultural potential hinterland. In particular, this included construction substantial canals connecting with sources such as marshes north Shaṭṭ al- c Arab—the river forms at confluence Tigris Euphrates flows past Gulf. The tidal influence causes level Arab rise fall daily and, by exploiting characteristic, could irrigate swathes land city. Analysis historic satellite imagery reveals possible evidence for infrastructure that made possible—including remains field systems bounded by, interspersed with, well raised linear ridge features occur tandem relict canal systems. critically assesses dating these features, scenarios how they functioned their relationship Basra.