Gardening has been with humankind since prehistoric times., marking one of the oldest living expressions of the relationship with nature. Its evolution throughout civilizations reflects cultural changes, technological advances, religious beliefs, and new aesthetic sensibilities. In this extensive article, we present a comprehensive tour of the history of gardening, from its origins to the most current trends, integrating the contributions of the cultures that shaped each era, the most emblematic styles, and their role in society.
Remote origins: gardening as a necessity and symbol
The history of gardening begins when humans, leaving behind their nomadic life, begins the domestication of plants and the modification of the environment for nutritional, functional, and spiritual purposes. This transition, associated with the rise of agriculture, also entails the need to recreate small spaces of nature near their homes, both for pragmatic reasons and out of a desire to rediscover the wild in a controlled environment. Ancestral gardens not only provided food and shade, but also fulfilled symbolic, ritual and social functions..
Gardens of Antiquity: Mesopotamia, Egypt, Persia
Mesopotamia and the Hanging Gardens
Mesopotamia, the cradle of the first sedentary civilizations, is famous for its wonderful Hanging Gardens of BabylonThey were elevated structures, built on terraces, with palm and cypress trees, symbols of fertility and grandeur. The engineering of canals and water distribution for irrigation and beautification was crucial to these gardens, which represented the power of kings and the close relationship between water and life in arid areas.
Egypt: Sacred Geometry and the Desert Oasis
In Egypt, the garden was both functional and spiritual. The gardens of palaces and temples were arranged geometrically, with ponds, lotus flowers, and rows of palm trees or acacias. The main function was to provide cool shade in arid climatesThe pharaohs imported exotic species, turning their gardens into veritable oases and settings for religious rituals. The symbolism was notable: the lotus flower, birds, and scents all had meanings linked to their deities and beliefs about life and death.
Persia: Earthly Paradise and the Art of Channeling Water
El Persian Empire gave life to Garden of Paradise (Char Bagh), structured in quadrants by means of crossed channels, evoking the mythical four sacred rivers. This orthogonal design, precursor of the parterre European, sought to reflect balance and fertility in the midst of desert landscapes. Intelligent water management and symmetry were key to the Persian influence on Western gardening and the subsequent development of formal and geometric styles.
The influence of ancient gardens
- Parterres, symmetry and planting grids persist in Western design.
- Innovations in water management, use of terraces and symbolic plant species.
- The garden goes from being exclusive to the nobility to public and domestic spaces.
Greece and Rome: Philosophy, Leisure and Art in Gardening
Classical Greece conceived the landscape as an open garden; natural topography was integrated to create spaces designed for dialogue, leisure, and philosophy. The Greeks were precursors of public trees and the hortus conclusus (closed garden), democratizing access to gardens beyond the aristocracy.
With Roma, the gardening takes on a notable formality: central courtyards (peristyles), geometric gardens, ponds, sculptures, and topiaries. Advances in hydraulics and decorative techniques transformed the garden into an extension of the home. Roman gardens influenced European models, and some of their vegetation (olive trees, cypresses, laurel, myrtle) remains in modern gardens.
Medieval Gardens: Intimacy, Symbolism, and Botanical Science
During the Middle Ages, gardens were confined within the walls of castles and monasteries due to wars and isolation. The monastic garden was the epicenter of cultivation, knowledge and symbolismHerbaria and orchards provided medicines and food, and the cloistered garden evoked Eden with fountains or central trees and crisscrossing paths. Plant symbolism was key: the lily represented purity, the iris the lineage of David, and other plants had spiritual and therapeutic value.
During this period, greenhouses and botanical gardens also emerged, spaces dedicated to the research and acclimatization of exotic species brought from new territories, laying the foundations of modern scientific botany. The medieval garden was a refuge, dedicated both to contemplation and to agricultural and medicinal experimentation.
Renaissance and Baroque: art, symmetry and power
The Renacimiento, the garden regained prominence as a space for pleasure and a demonstration of power. Driven by noble families, mainly in Italy, and later in France, The gardens are designed following rules of perspective, symmetry and geometryArchitectural elements (columns, statues, fountains) were integrated, and the first treatises on landscaping appeared. The Renaissance garden is an aesthetic composition that unites house, landscape, and domesticated nature.
With the Baroque reaches its maximum expression french garden: large expanses, central axes, terraces, elaborate flowerbeds and water features, as at the Palace of Versailles. The Baroque garden is symbol of absolute power, reflecting the desire to impose order and majesty on nature. Mathematical planning and topiary art reach their peak.
The English garden and Romanticism: nature as art
In response to the rigidity of French classicism, The English or romantic garden advocates naturalness and freedomThe natural landscape is imitated, avoiding straight lines and opting for winding paths, lakes, meadows, and irregular groups of trees. Aesthetic emotion and contemplative enjoyment are sought, integrating elements such as gazebos, fountains, statues, and even "scenic ruins."
This style positioned England as a benchmark in European landscaping, and was fundamental to the subsequent development of urban public parks and botanical gardens.
The impact of Islamic and Eastern cultures
El Islamic garden It is conceived as an earthly paradise: enclosed, secret, intimate, dominated by water and aromatic plants such as jasmine, lavender, and orange blossom. Iconic examples include the gardens of the Alhambra, the Generalife, and the courtyards of Córdoba. The irrigation ditch, the fountains and the shade define the space for rest and contemplation.
En Asia, the gardening of China and Japan is associated with spirituality and art. The chinese garden It is a harmonious synthesis of stone, water and vegetation, linked to Taoist and Confucian principles. Japanese garden symbolizes nature in miniature, with minimalist landscapes (taukiyama) and Zen austerity (hiraniwa), highly appreciated for their meditative and aesthetic value.
Modern Era and Urban Gardening: Science, Sustainability, and Community
From the 19th century onwards, public and botanical gardens They multiplied, facilitating access to green spaces and biodiversity. The growth of cities promoted the creation of emblematic parks such as Central Park, design gardens designed for social recreation and environmental protection.
La current gardening It integrates historic styles and new technologies: green roofs and walls, vertical gardens, smart irrigation systems, urban gardens, and a strong focus on sustainability, water conservation, and promoting biodiversity. Native plants, recycling and ecological awareness They are key to contemporary designs. The role of the garden is being redefined: beyond aesthetics, it contributes to health, well-being, climate change mitigation, and social cohesion.
The Spanish garden, a result of syncretism between Islamic, Persian, Roman, French and English cultures, stands out for its privacy, the use of water as a visual axis and the variety of plants. Andalusian patios, orchards, cigarrales, pazos and carmenes They are regional expressions that enrich the peninsula's landscape heritage. Today, gardening in Spain is evolving toward urban integration, sustainable maintenance, and the conservation of traditional elements adapted to new needs.
