EL REGADÍO EN LA HISPANIA ROMANA. ESTADO DE LA CUESTIÓN

Abstract

The present paper states that the subject of irrigation in Roman Hispania is often neglected in modern scholarship, and points out the problems and questions arising from this subject, such as the general importance of irrigation on the Iberian Peninsula, the role of the arabic conquest in it, and the interpretation of archaeological evidence. By providing a possible classification of irrigation systems, a case study of the Ebro valley and an overview ofirrigation infrastructure in the remaining parts of the Iberian Peninsula, the authors draw preliminary conclusions on the relation of irrigation infrastructure and privileged Roman settlements and suggest that irrigation played a bigger role in the economy of Roman Hispania than generally assumed.