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Evolution of Floods: From Ancient Times to the Present Times (ca 7600 BC to the Present) and the Future

Author

Listed:
  • Andreas N. Angelakis

    (School of History and Culture, Hubei University, Wuhan 430061, China
    Hellenic Agricultural Organization (HAO)—Demeter, National Foundation for Agricultural Research, Institute of Iraklion, 71307 Iraklion, Greece)

  • Andrea G. Capodaglio

    (Department of Civil Engineering & Architecture, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy)

  • Mohammad Valipour

    (Department of Engineering and Engineering Technology, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Denver, CO 80217, USA)

  • Jens Krasilnikoff

    (Department of History and Classical Studies, School of Culture and Society, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark)

  • Abdelkader T. Ahmed

    (Civil Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Islamic University of Madinah, Medina 42351, Saudi Arabia
    Civil Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Aswan University, Aswan 81528, Egypt)

  • Laila Mandi

    (National Center for Studies and Research on Water and Energy, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech P.O. Box 511, Morocco)

  • Vasileios A. Tzanakakis

    (Department of Agriculture, School of Agricultural Science, Hellenic Mediterranean University, 71410 Iraklion, Greece)

  • Alper Baba

    (Department of International Water Resources, Izmir Institute of Technology, Izmir 35430, Türkiye)

  • Rohitashw Kumar

    (College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, SKUAST—Kashmir, Srinagar 190025, India)

  • Xiaoyun Zheng

    (School of History and Culture, Hubei University, Wuhan 430061, China)

  • Zhang Min

    (School of History and Culture, Hubei University, Wuhan 430061, China)

  • Mooyoung Han

    (Institute of Construction and Environmental Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea)

  • Bashiru Turay

    (Department of Geography, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany)

  • Esra Bilgiç

    (Department of Civil Engineering, Izmir Institute of Technology, Izmir 35430, Türkiye)

  • Nicholas Dercas

    (Natural Resources Management and Agricultural Engineering Department, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece)

Abstract

Floods are one of the most dangerous natural disasters, causing great destruction, damage, and even fatalities worldwide. Flooding is the phenomenon of a sudden increase or even slow increase in the volume of water in a river or stream bed as the result of several possible factors: heavy or very long precipitation, melting snowpack, strong winds over the water, unusually high tides, tsunamis, or the failure of dams, gages, detention basins, or other structures that hold back water. To gain a better understanding of flooding, it is necessary to examine evidence, search for ancient wisdom, and compare flood-management practices in different regions in a chronological perspective. This study reviews flood events caused by rising sea levels and erratic weather from ancient times to the present. In addition, this review contemplates concerns about future flood challenges and possible countermeasures. Thus, it presents a catalogue of past examples in order to present a point of departure for the study of ancient floods and to learn lessons for preparation for future flood incidents including heavy rainfalls, particularly in urbanized areas. The study results show that ancient societies developed multifaceted technologies to cope with floods and many of them are still usable now and may even represent solutions and measures to counter the changing and increasingly more erratic weather of the present.

Suggested Citation

  • Andreas N. Angelakis & Andrea G. Capodaglio & Mohammad Valipour & Jens Krasilnikoff & Abdelkader T. Ahmed & Laila Mandi & Vasileios A. Tzanakakis & Alper Baba & Rohitashw Kumar & Xiaoyun Zheng & Zhang, 2023. "Evolution of Floods: From Ancient Times to the Present Times (ca 7600 BC to the Present) and the Future," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-52, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:12:y:2023:i:6:p:1211-:d:1168616
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Andreas N. Angelakis & Andrea G. Capodaglio & Rohitashw Kumar & Mohammad Valipour & Abdelkader T. Ahmed & Alper Baba & Esra B. Güngör & Laila Mandi & Vasileios A. Tzanakakis & Nektarios N. Kourgialas , 2025. "Water Supply Systems: Past, Present Challenges, and Future Sustainability Prospects," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-49, March.
    2. Marianna Olivadese, 2025. "Rethinking Nature-Based Solutions: Unintended Consequences, Ancient Wisdom, and the Limits of Nature," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-14, June.
    3. Ha, Le Thanh, 2025. "Reconsider the role of digital revolution in public sector during the time of climate risk: Fresh insights from panel autoregression model," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 219(C).
    4. Omotoso Kayode Adeola & Omale Reuben Peters, 2025. "Assessment of Sustainable Flood Resilient Housing: A Review," International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation, International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI), vol. 12(5), pages 481-494, May.

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