IRRIGATION COMMUNITIES IN THE ROMAN WORLD THROUGH EPIGRAPHIC SOURCES AND JUSTINIAN'S DIGEST

THIS PAPER DEALS WITH LOCAL IRRIGATION SYSTEMS ORGANIZED BY VILLAGES AND COMMUNITIES IN THE ROMAN WORLD. IT WILL EXAMINE SOME EPIGRAPHIC, LITERARY AND JURIDICAL EVIDENCES ON THIS TOPIC. IN ALL THESE CASES THE NEED FOR JOINT WATER USE LED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF AT LEAST INITIAL FORMS OF ASSOCIATION AMONG SO CALLED RIVALES, DEALING WITH A) WATER DISTRIBUTION; B) REGULATION OF THE HYDRAULIC WORK; C) ARBITRATION OF POSSIBLE DISPUTES.