The unique story of water and society in the ancient world by Steven Mithen has not been presented before and is particularly relevant today amid global climate change. The planet faces a global water crisis in the 21st century - but how new is this? Ancient societies and ancient civilizations always faced climate change and were dependent on their ability to control and manage water supply. This often served as a crucial factor in historical changes, leading to some of the most remarkable engineering works of antiquity.

In the book THIRST, the renowned archaeologist and prehistorian, Steven Mithen, examines the history of water management in the ancient world. From the earliest toilets in Knossos, Minoan Crete, to the aqueducts of Petra and the Incas, from the baths of Rome to the canals of ancient China and the extensive reservoirs of the Khmer and Mayan civilizations, water management proves essential not only for human survival but also as a source of political power. This will remain critical as we face global climate change, population growth, and massive urbanization.

So, does the past give us reasons for hope or despair?