Water and dams in Transoxiana during the third and fourth Hijri centuries the ninth and tenth centuries AD

Abstract

Transoxania is part of the lands of Turkestan in Central Asia. It is one of the lands that Islam reached as early as the first Hijri century, seventh century AD. This land included, too, a number of ancient regions and cities which were home to Turkish - speaking countries. Moreover, this land was one of the richest regions due to its strategic geography, diverse minerals as well as the abundance of agricultural and animal output. The region in question was characterized, too, by the abundance of water resources since it is located between two great rivers, namely the Sihon and Gehon (Syrdaria-Amudaria) from which many water courses branch off to irrigate the region and provide it with that vital substance. To finish with, we can say that apart from the abundance of water, the methods used in collecting, storing and redistributing it in the region were innovative and highly effective, especially the dams met there.