History of water

The EU aims to provide elements to build a historical framework and analyze archives on water management.

It addresses the history of water management models, the history of hydraulic engineers and hydraulics, and the social and political history of water management in a Latin American country, Ecuador.

It also presents the departmental archive system.

• Know the history of hydrology and hydraulics,
• Acquire knowledge of historical water theories,
• Learn about archival procedures,
• Create a historical narrative.

Oral restitution of the TD and PowerPoint presentation.

The week begins with three presentations on the history of water management models (T. Ruf), on the history of hydraulic engineers and hydraulics (S. Lanau) and on the social and political history of water management in a Latin American country, Ecuador.

A presentation of the departmental archives system will be given, then, after the formation of the TD groups, a work of reading, analysis of the documents and the construction of a historical narrative will be done during two and a half days. A follow-up will be done halfway through the course with the supervisors. On Friday morning, each group will present its story to the rest of the students and a final discussion will close the week. The form of the restitution can vary according to the groups, but the principle is to have all members of the group participate orally supported́ by a PowerPoint presentation. A role play is often adequate, but other options are possible.

Examples of TD 2020 groups:

• Group A: In France, in the Ardèche, the Bourges valley is affected by a conflict of urbanism along the river. Reconstruct the history of the floods, the impacts, the reactions of the inhabitants and the state services.
• Group B: In Morocco, the population of Fez revolted in 1930 when the hydraulic administration of the Protectorate decided to change the entire drinking water system of the city, including the Medina.
• Group C: The law on the creation of syndical associations was promulgated in 1865 by Napoleon III. It was to be applied in Algeria, but the colonial administration questioned its relevance.