Were the Moors useful for Agriculture?

The Moors brought millenniums of agricultural and hydrology expertise from Syria and the Fertile Crescent area, during the expansion of the Islamic Empire.

They knew how to harness water: both rivers and snow-melt waters.

Roman installations: Dams, public baths and aqueducts were respected and repaired.

They believed, as had the Ancient Greeks and Romans, that hygiene as an essential form of good health.
During the Medieval Times, Europe was filthy and smelly place - even in the ranks of royalty.

The Europeans were reluctant to admit, to what extent, the Moors had revolutionized agriculture.

The Moors had great respect for nature and sought to imitate it.

Christians were encouraged to fear natural elements.

Water was essential for all forms of life.

The Moors built Public baths even in the most distant areas.

They channelled al-Andalusia with acequias: irrigation channels, qanats: underground channels, aljibes: cistern storage tanks of vast proportions.

They introduced the water-pumping hydrology techniques of: the waterwheel (noria) and Saqiya. Dams were built. Valencia became the principle rice-growing area as the rice paddies were flooded by the newly constructed dams.

Diet was equally as important as hygiene.

It was profoundly linked to Eastern Alternative Medicine.

The Moors brought with them nurseries of new vegetables, spices and fruits.

Introduction of sugar-cane and cotton were transcendental to the Iberian Peninsular.

Through exhaustive study and annotations of plant and crop progress, tilling, land preparation , crop rotations and constant irrigation, Moorish Spain's agriculture, flourished during the tenth century. Spectacular Moorish water gardens evolved.

Water: an Islamic symbol of paradise.

Several famous Moorish gardens exist, today: the Alhambra's Generalife and the Elx Palm Groves of Elche in Murica.

Once the reconquista gathered pace, lands were ignored not irrigated and the science of the new crops laid aside. Spain's populace lost their status of excellent health. Famines and plagues that were pandemic throughout Europe crossed the frontier to Spain.

The Moors contributed immensely to agriculture and hydrology.

Their work has stood the test of time. The Alhambra monument, whose gardens centre on "the expression of water," was considered as a Wonder of the World.

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