More than 2,000 years ago Pausanias, the Greek geographer who travelled throughout the Ancient world, declared that no city had the right to call itself a city unless it had at its centre an ornamental fountain. And Sextus Julius Frontinus, the planner responsible for providing Ancient Rome with its fresh water, complained at the acclaim accorded the the useless Egyptian pyramids and Greek temples whilst the absolutely essential water structres of Rome were disregarded The cultural and historical importance of water are just two of the many aspect of water explored in this unique three volume work. Ranging from ancient times to the present day all aspects - social, cultural, political, religious, hisotircal, economic and technological are encompassed. The result is one of the most complete and up to date accounts of the vital role played by water in the history and development of human civilization and its continuing importance for the modern world.