New book: water for bread, water for sugar

pa i sucreOn January 17, 2020 the work ” Aigua per al pa, aigua per al sucre. La construcció de els séquies de Palma i d’en March a l’Alfàs de l’Horta de Gandia” was presented, published by the University of Lleida at the end of 2019.

The two authors, Ferran Esquilache (member of Landscapes of Conquest) and Frederic Aparisi, participated in the presentation. Likewise, the event was opened by the municipal archaeologist of Gandia and director of the host museum, Joan Negre.

The book is a study of agrarian archeology that combines the use of medieval written sources and morphological interpretation on two hydraulic systems of the Huerta de Gandia. It is the Alfaç de Palma Canal, built in the 13th century for the installation of Christian settlers in the villages of Palma and Ador, and secondly the En March’s Canal, built in the 15th century by the well-known poet Ausias March, who was lord of Beniarjó, to promote the sugar cane plantation. Despite the chronological distance between both systems, both are characterized by being constructions that are explained by their feudal character, driven by lords in order to increase the production of their vassals and, therefore, increase their rent extraction.

If you are interested in this book you can buy it here.

 

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