G8 History: Traditional Technologies and Arts of Sri Lanka PDF

Unit 1 History - Grade 8  Sri Lanka is a country which has a continuously recorded history of about 2500 years. During this long period, our ancestors adopted various technologies that were appropriate for their contexts in resolving the issues that affected their day-to-day life. In t...

Unit 1 History - Grade 8  Sri Lanka is a country which has a continuously recorded history of about 2500 years. During this long period, our ancestors adopted various technologies that were appropriate for their contexts in resolving the issues that affected their day-to-day life. In this lesson we will learn about the ancient technologies and arts of our country.  1.1 Water Technology 1.1.1 Beginning of the Construction of Tanks The technology used for the constructions related to water like lakes, ponds, canals etc. can be simply called as water technology. The first villages in this country were established in the dry zone of our country since before Christ. In the dry zone, the construction of tanks started as there was insufficient rain throughout the year for agricultural activities. (The dry zone receives rain only at one time of the year.) According to that, the purpose of building tanks was to collect and keep the water needed for cultivation and consumption.  It can be assumed that construction of a dam across a brook or a stream so that water is collected there, is the origin of constructing small tanks. Small tanks required for those small villages were constructed by the villagers themselves under the leadership of the heads of those villages. These are called village tanks. As kings began to be involved in the construction of tanks, bigger tanks which had more capacity than village tanks could be constructed because kings could collect more people than village heads could. By about 3rd century BC, construction of bigger tanks under the patronage of kings had begun. examples: ❑ King Pandukabhaya. - Jaya Vapi, Abhaya Vapi(Basawakkulama wewa) and Gamini Vapi. ❑ King Devanampiyatissa - Thissa Wewa  Construction of Big Tanks ❑ King Vasabha was the king who started constructing big tanks in this country for the first time. King Number of tanks constructed Examples king Vasabha 11 Mayeth Wewa (presently called Mahavilachchiya Wewa) Maanikviti or Mahanikkavatti Wewa (presently called Maanankattiya Wewa) King Mahasen 1000 Maniheera wewa (presently called as Minneriya Wewa) Following the construction of Jallura Vapi (presently called Hurulu Minneriya tank King Mahasen Wewa) came to be known as Minneriya Khaanu Vapi (presently called God. Mahakanadara Wewa)  King Number of tanks constructed Examples King Dathusena 18 Kala Wewa Paadulaka Vapi (not been identified Out of the tanks constructed by him, so far) Kala Wewa is an outstanding Mahadaththa Vapi (presently called creation as Maadathugama) King Parakramabahu I 163 Parakrama Samudraya His motto was, “Not a single drop of water received from rain should be allowed to flow into the sea without making any use of it”. Achievements of the Lankans consequent to Construction of Large Scale Tanks As a huge volume of water could be stored in large tanks, shortage of water could be minimized even during prolonged droughts. Small tanks could be provided with water from large-scale tanks through canals. Floods could be controlled because of large-scale tanks. With the construction of large-scale tanks, the technology of constructing long canals developed.  Challenges confronted and Technologies adopted in constructing Tanks Selecting the right location for making a tank - When selecting the location, mostly a land in a narrow river valley with two mountain ranges on either side was selected and a dam was constructed across the river joining the two mountain ranges. Designing the dam to withstand the pressure exerted by the volume of water collected in the tank. - In order to prevent the dam from caving in, the top soil of the relevant area is removed up to the bed rock and then it is filled with layers of soil of different types. When building up the dam with such layers of soil, the soil was pressed hard so that absorption of water by the soil is minimum and the dam is strong enough to withstand water pressure. Finding the labour required for constructing tanks - Labor was procured under the system of duty and voluntary service. Activity 1 1. Why did the people who lived in the dry zone in the past create tanks? 2. What kind of tanks were called village tanks? 3. Write examples of tanks made by the following kings A. King Pandukabhaya B. King Devanampiyatissa C. king Vasabha D. King Mahasen E. King Dathusena F. King Parakramabahu I 4. Name four achievements of the Lankans consequent to Construction of Large Scale Tanks 5. Name three challenges confronted in constructing Tanks  The Sluice The Key Features of a Tank The sluice was created for the purpose of letting out through the dam into a canal the water that is stored in the tank exerting a very high pressure on the dam. Most tanks have two sluices, namely the upper sluice and the bottom sluice. In smaller tanks a Bisokotuwa has not been constructed and water is let out through the sluice itself. Bisokotuwa Bisokotuwa has been constructed in order to let out the water stored in the tank with proper regulation. Bisokotuwa is a part of the sluice itself. In big tanks with several sluices, there also are an equal number of bisokotuwa. Bisokotuwa is considered to be a unique invention of the Lankan irrigation technologists.  Breakwater The inside of the dam has been constructed laying stone on the surface in order to prevent the dam from being washed away into the tank. This is called the breakwater. The breakwater is essential in order to protect the dam. Inner Spill and Outer Spill The inner spill has been constructed for the purpose of obtaining water for the tank from some other source of water. The outer spill has been constructed for the purpose of letting the excess water out. A big tank may be constructed with two outer spills. Activity 2 1. Draw the Bisokotuwa and name its parts 1.1.2 Technology applied in constructing Canals and Dams A bund that is constructed across canals, streams or rivers blocking the flow of water in order to divert some of that water to paddy fields is known as an anicut. A bund of this nature is called a dam. Accordingly, the term ‘dam’ mostly refers to a bund that is constructed for retaining water. There had been two types of dams, 1. makeshift dams (Temporary dams ) 2. permanent dams ❑ makeshift dams (Temporary dams ) - Temporary dams were built by standing wooden poles across a river and blocking the flow of water with small trees, mud and sand branches. ❑ permanent dams - A permanent dam is a dam that is built strong enough to withstand water pressure over a long period of time. Thekkam anicut that has been constructed across Malwathu Oya close to Vavuniya – Mannar main junction is a fine example for an ancient anicut with a stable, permanent bund. Construction of Canals Requirements for constructing canals: To carry water from tanks or anicuts to farmlands. To carry water from an anicut to a tank or a tank system. To carry water from one tank to another or to several other tanks. Examples: King Vasabha → Aalisara or Elahera Ela. (He has constructed twelve canals) King Mahasen → Thilavaththuka or Thalwathu Ela (For the purpose of obtaining water for the Minneriya Tank. ) King Dathusena → Jaya Ganga or Yodha Ela (To carry water from Kala Wewa to Thissa Wewa in Anuradhapura) King Aggabodhi I → Minipe Ela (For carrying water from the Mahaweli ) Task 1 - Read and find 5 facts about the technology used in the construction of canals and the challenges faced  1.1.3 Constructing Ponds The history of constructing ponds in Lanka runs as far back as to the time of the legend of Prince Vijaya. According to Mahawansa, when prince Vijaya arrived in Lanka, Kuveni was knitting cotton by the side of a pond. It is evident from this description that ponds had been constructed in this country even by that time. Requirements for constructing Ponds and Types of Ponds ❑ Ponds constructed for storing water required for consumption. Ex : Eth Pokuna in Abhayagiriya had been constructed to store water for bathing The ponds in Ranmasu Uyana in Anuradhapura had been constructed for the purposes of bathing and for water sports. ❑ Ponds constructed for proper removal of rainwater. Ex : Ponds near Abhayagiri Dagaba Eth Pokuna ❑ Ponds constructed to add beauty. Ex : The ponds in Ranmasu Uyana in Anuradhapura, Kumara Pokuna and Nelum Pokuna (Lotus Pond) in Polonnaruwa ❑ Ponds that have been constructed to keep the environment cool. Ex: 65 ponds had been constructed in the premises of the Abhayagiri temple More than 40 ponds had been constructed in the Rajagala archaeological site in Ampara At that time ponds were also built to fulfill several purposes from one pond. Twin Ponds in Anuradhapura is a fine example for that. It can be assumed that the Twin Ponds served the purposes of providing water for the consumption of the Bhikkus in Abhayagiri Temple, adding beauty to the environment and keeping the environment cool. Activity 3 1. Write the four types of ponds with examples. 2. Collect and paste pictures of ancient ponds in our country.  1.1.4 Water Gardens Water gardens or pleasure gardens are those in which plants and trees are grown and are designed for spending leisure or doing sports in them. It was King Mutaseeva who first constructed such a garden in this country. According to Mahawansa, on the day when the land was prepared for constructing the garden, a heavy rain (Megha) had fallen; hence the garden was given the name ‘Maha Megha Wana’. Later it became famous as Mahamewuna Gardens. King Devanampiyatissa later offered this garden to Arahat Mahinda and other Bhikkus. Examples for ancient water gardens The kings who built the ancient water gardens ❖ Mahamewuna Gardens (‘Maha Megha ❖ King Mutseeva Wana) ❖ King Kutakannathissa ❖ ‘Nandana Uyana (Jothi Garden) ❖ King Vasabha ❖ Padmasvara Uyana – constructed by ❖ King Gotabhaya King Kutakannathissa ❖ King Kasyapa I ❖ King Agbo I Mahamewuna Uyana and Nandana ❖ King Parakramabahu I Uyana had been offered to Bhikkus  Ranmasu Uyana The area from Isurumuni Temple on the bank of Thissa Wewa to Mirisawetiya Temple belongs to Ranmasu Uyana. Ranmasu Uyana was constructed for the use of kings. To suit the hot season, the garden had been constructed with open cabins, pavilions, bathing places and beds made of rock for lying on.  Sigiriya Water Garden Sigiriya water garden is outstanding among the ancient water gardens in South Asia. It was constructed in 5th century AD. It was discovered by H.C.P. Bell and Senarath Paranavithana. Task 2 - Collect facts about Ranmasu Uyana and Saigiri Water garden and make a booklet.