Gardens take many forms, and have a variety of functions. They can serve as spaces of peace and tranquility, a way to cultivate wildlife, or as places to develop agricultural resources. Globally, gardens have inspired, comforted, and sustained people from all walks of life, and since the Garden of Eden many iconic gardens have inspired great artists, poets, musicians, and writers. In this Very Short Introduction , Gordon Campbell embraces gardens in all their splendour, from parks, and fruit and vegetable gardens to ornamental gardens, and takes the reader on a globe-trotting historical journey through iconic and cultural signposts of gardens from different regions and traditions. Ranging from the gardens of ancient Persia to modern day allotments, he concludes by looking to the future of the garden in the age of global warming, and the adaptive spirit of human innovation. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable. "As informative as it is accessible, this compact and expertly researched historical chronicle surprises and delights." -- Garden Design Journal From ancient Persia to modern city allotments, Gordon Campbell celebrates the variety, significance, beauty, and practicality of gardens throughout history. Gordon Campbell is Fellow in Renaissance Studies at University of Leicester, and a Fellow of the British Academy. In January 2012, he was presented with the Longman History Today Trustees Award for his life time contribution to history. His many books on literature, art, history, and biography, include the Bible: The Story of the King James Version (OUP, 2010) and The Hermit in the Garden: From Imperial Rome to the Garden Gnome (OUP, 2013)