أثر الإفلاج في المجتمع المعاني حتى نهاية القرن (6 ه 12 م)‎ : دراسة تاريخية حضارية

Abstract EN

Al-Aflaj is an ancient Omani historical heritage that contributed to the construction of the Omani civilization.

Due to the lack of historical documents that chronicle the development of Al-Aflaj in Oman, legends about those Aflaj were invented.

Al-Aflaj, however, represent the Omanis challenge of harsh nature, specifically, the lack of rain and the drought.ln most parts of Oman, al-Aflaj and irrigation systems associated with it had a major role in growth and urbanization, which in turn created administrative systems that worked on the cohesion of the population who lived in villages and towns.

Al-Aflaj contributed to the formulation of the social system in the Omani town through practices that were linked both in the stages of digging al-Aflaj or in the stages of water distribution among the beneficiaries.

Nearly everyone was eager to achieve justice in benefiting from al-Aflaj, each according to their shares.

This, in turn, created the concept of collective responsibility towards the protection of al-Aflaj, through which life is sustained in the town or the village.

Al-Aflaj played a primary role in the formation of society categories, most importantly: main Owners.

Being an economic power, those main Owners had a major role in overseeing Al-Aflaj, and were known as "aL-Jubah " Additionally, al-Aflaj improved living standards for some society categories by providing particular jobs associated with al-Aflaj drilling and maintenance.

Moreover, some simple industries evolved on both edges of the channel of al-Aflaj, for example, water mills.