>In relation to this idea I might add that of a "water" culture or
>an Irrigation culture...in which the control of the water controls
>the culture. Egypt was one such. The ruling class gets
>entrenched.. (no! not conspiricy theory...) and maintains the
>status quo...forcefully.
I always liked the term Frank Herbert used in "Dune" for this
political/economic phenomenon........hydraulic despotism.
Brian