The following are notes and comments that have been gathered
primarily from sources listed below. Please do not expect the
entire document to read like a well-constructed essay! These are
general notes that are meant to emphasize important points and
provide you a general framework for the Historical Development of
Horticulture. Where possible, I have embedded links to relevant sites
on the Internet for further exploration. I encourage you to try
these!
Arguably a valid question, but one that is asked by students in Horticulture. There are many reasons why it is important to gain an historical perspective of the development of Horticulture. The following quotes express some of these reasons nicely.
From the standpoint of the art of Horticulture (e.g. Landscape Design), the following quote from G. & S. Jellicoe, THE LANDSCAPE OF MAN, Thames and Hudson, Ltd, London, 1975, is relevant:
Art is a continuous process. However new the circumstances may be, it is virtually impossible to create a work of art without antecedents. The challenge of history is not whether it should be studied, but rather the interpretation of what is constant and therefore alive today, and what is ephemeral and only academic.
Along the same vein, P. L. Carpenter, T. D. Walker and F. O. Lanhear in PLANTS IN THE LANDSCAPE, W.H. Freeman and Co., San Franciso, 1975, write:
In making a sensitive, constructive use of plants in the landscape, it is helpful to understand the relationship of man to those parts of the landscape that he developed during the course of history, for man's gardening in any period reflects much about the cultural, economic, and political nature of people. A study of history can, furthermore, provide a better understanding of man today and how he is motivated to express himself in landscape development.
Follow the links below to learn about the History of Horticulture
Return to the Landscapes section of the WebPortal.