Description
Book SynopsisRashda:The Birth and Growth of an Egyptian Oasis Village is an interdisciplinary study from a multi-perspective, using various kinds of data and information. It offers a comprehensive description of Rashda, a village in Dakhla Oasis in Egypt from its beginning to the present. Key concepts are the uncertainty of the water supply, the dependence on the political regime and the rational behaviour of individuals. The villagers of Rashda have dealt with the difficult natural circumstances by creating the local customs of irrigation and cultivation. The development of village recently depends ever more on the government, as long as large amounts of finance and superior technology are necessary to dig deeper wells to secure water for cultivation.
Table of ContentsPreface Transliteration of Arabic Introduction Scope of the Research Methodology and Data Part 1 Dakhla Oasis 1 Islands of the Blessed Islands in the Sand Dakhla Oasis in the Administration of Modern Egypt Column ① Egypt from the Periphery 2 Conditions of Natural and Human Resources Climate and Hydrogeology Demographic Trends Water, Population and Land Use 3 Family Structure Analytical Framework Household Structures in the Nationwide Surveys Household Structures and Family in 19 Villages Family Structures in Four Survey Villages 4 Social Economy Social and Economic Structures in Egypt Regional Categorization of Social and Economic Structures Viewing 19 Villages using Basic Indicators Personalities of the 19 Villages Part 2 Rashda in History 5 Formation of Rashda Rashda at the End of the 18th Century Rashda as a Field Rashda as a Settlement Landscape of “Old” Rashda 6 Development of Rashda Independence of Rashda from Qalamun Formation of the “New” Rashda Expansion of the Village Space Column ② Rashda Village Cemetery 7 A Society Based on Water Uncertainty of Water Supply State Intervention in Water Affairs A Society Controlled by Water A Society Based on Water Sharing Part 3 Rashda Today 8 Rashda as a Community Location and Administration Residential Space in Rashda Public Services in Rashda Services Provided by the Villagers 9 Family Structure in Rashda Household Structure in 1861 Household and Family Structure in Rashda in 2005 Families in Rashda across 150 Years Column ③ Family Tree 10 Wells and Irrigation Wells and Springs Development of Wells Water Distribution Column ④ Bir Majnun District 11 Agriculture and Household Economies Agriculture in Household Economies Crop and Livestock Market in Household Economies Part 4 Community in Well No. 3 Irrigation District 12 Irrigation District Categories of Irrigation District Bir Sheykh (Local Well) Irrigation District Investment Well No. 51 District Saada (Surface Spring) District 13 Society of Well No. 3 Irrigation District History of Well No. 3 Irrigation District Irrigation Management System Crop Rotation System 14 Social Relations of Well No. 3 Irrigation District An Irrigation District Formed by Government Policy Family as an Institution of Landholding and Management Agricultural Co-operation between Farmers Conclusion Three Factors for Analysis A Society Embedded in Water Management List of Illustrations Select Bibliography Explanatory Glossary
