History of Gardening

Gardening is an integral part of the history of landscape architecture. Without the knowledge of gardening, plants would easily die out and there will be nothing for people to admire in lawns and parks everywhere in the world.

This article takes a peek at the history of gardening beginning from the ancient times to today’s society.

People have appreciated having vast lawns and gardens in their households for a long time. Even in ancient Egyptian tombs, there are illustrations that show ponds surrounded by different types of trees which are evidences of how gardening flourished even at that time. Then there’s the fabled Hanging Gardens of Babylon which is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was said to have been built by the Persian king Darius the Great for his wife.

The civilizations that came after Egypt and Persia continued with this tradition of having a vast expanse of gardens. These include the Ancient Greeks and Romans.

But gardening isn’t an entirely Western activity. Even the ancient Chinese and Japanese have built landscapes in their temples. Their designs are usually aimed at replicating natural landscapes such as mountains and rivers.

The Middle Ages brought about a revival of gardening practices in Europe. By the 16th to the 18th centuries, the development of such gardens was at an all time high.

And while gardening of the past was solely in the domain of houses and temples, it played an important role in urban planning by the time the 20th century came. It has since then played a part in the creation not only of houses but also of buildings throughout the world.