Mapping ancestral irrigation techniques in the Mediterranean basin and Central Asia for a climate based analysis

As a cartographic base for the analysis of an extensive literature review on the ancestral irrigation and water management techniques in the Mediterranean basin and Central Asia, we propose some thematic maps that presents a classification of the ancestral irrigation techniques and some climatic indices, i.e. the Köppen–Geiger climate classification, the De Martonne aridity index, and the Johansson continentality index. In view of underlining the deep cultural role of the ancestral techniques into relationship with the development of the agriculture and settlements in the Ancient World and their relationship with the local climate, the maps are projected on a cartographic base which mimics the Ptolemaic Ecumene, thus stressing the fact that these techniques were diffused in almost all the considered—livable lands of the ancient Geography.