Over the past 50 years, the subject of garden history has been  firmly established as an academic discipline. While many have  explored what was created in gardens throughout history, the  reasons as to why they were created has naturally been more  diverse. Depending on the background of the author, the ideas  have ranged from aesthetic values deriving from art,  philosophical thoughts and ideas, social and even economic  forces. Occasionally some thought has been given to the influence  of political ideology such as the development of the English  landscape garden in the first half of the 18th century.  Gardens in History: A Political Perspective  looks at the creation of gardens elsewhere through a similar political 'lens' in order to  move debate away from portraying the motivation behind  'garden-making' merely as painting a picture with plants and  buildings. Gardens are looked at in relation to not only how they  are influenced by the political ideas of their creators but also  how the gardens themselves provide support and legitimacy to  those in government, either covertly or directly.

 

Each chapter explores in depth one particular garden that  demonstrates the ideas put forward. Topics covered include  ancient gardens as political expressions of power, with the case  study of Hadrian's Villa at Tivoli, Renaissance Italian gardens  and political ideology, demonstrated by Villa Pratolino, Florence  and absolutism and diplomacy in the French formal garden using  Versailles, Paris. Other overseas gardens examined are Taj Mahal, Agra and Katsura Rikyu, Koyoto. British gardens also reveal much  about the effects of politics on their creation; case studies  here are Stowe, Buckinghamshire, looking at the landscape garden  as a political tool for Whig England; Hackfall, Yorkshire and  picturesque debate as a political metaphor; Birkenheard Park,  Merseyside and 19th century public parks in British Reform  politics; Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and the politics of Empire;  and moving into the 20th century, Painshill, Surrey and socialist  politics and conservation.