Ancient hydraulic engineering as sustainability practices: Comparative insights from Greece and China

This study conducts a comparative analysis of ancient water management systems in Greece and China, focusing on their technological, philosophical, and environmental dimensions. By integrating archaeological evidence, historical documentation, and modern scholarship through qualitative research methods, this study reveals how both civilizations developed highly advanced hydraulic infrastructures shaped by their distinct geographical conditions and cultural contexts. Ancient Greek engineering emphasized geometric precision, rational order, and civic-oriented design, whereas Chinese systems reflected principles of systemic integration, ecological adaptation, and governance rooted in moral and administrative philosophies. Despite their differences, both traditions shared a common ethos of harmonizing human ingenuity with natural processes, forming early paradigms of sustainable practice. Through historical comparative analysis, the study finds that the hydraulic principles underlying the Greek and Chinese systems—anchored in harmony, balance, and ethical governance—offer valuable conceptual models for contemporary sustainable water management and climate-resilient infrastructure. Finally, the study proposes an integrative “nature–engineering–society” framework to guide hydrological planning and policymaking in the Anthropocene.