Why are gardens an intrinsic piece of European culture?

Europe has a history that stretches back thousands of years. Over those years, cultural influences from across the world flowed through, affecting everything from language to artistic expression. Included in that category of artistic expression are gardens. It would be impossible to discuss European history and culture without mentioning gardens, as even today, elaborate gardens like Versailles and La Alhambra are some of the most visited in the world.

In my opinion, European garden art first took root during the Roman Empire. It was a time of enlightenment, and gardens were a way in which people could display their social status and knowledge. It was fashionable to curate an exotic collection of plants, and gardens served to showcase other art forms, such as sculpture and mosaics. Romans treasured the idea of otium, which is using your free time on something constructive like philosophy or art. What better place to discuss great ideas than relaxing in a sunlight garden, with the sound of a fountain close by? Additionally, the size of the empire itself allowed these ideas to spread far over Europe and ultimately influenced gardens across the continent. 

This picture, which I took at Roman ruins in southern Spain, reflects much that was common in a garden during the height of the Roman Empire. A marble statue, evergreen trees and a palm all work to recreate the atmosphere that many upper-class Roman citizens enjoyed. 

Though the Middle Ages in Europe saw a decline in expansive, decorative gardens, the art was not lost. It manifested itself in monastic cloisters, and the elaborate garden was eventually brought back through the Moors in Spain. At La Alhambra, Moorish architecture and styling is very apparent, and marks yet another phase in European gardening and history. 

Gardens are an intrinsic piece of European culture because they are an art form that has been carried throughout the continent's long and varied history, and the influences of each era are represented. Different features of the many cultures that have occupied this place can still be seen in gardens today, and the garden itself is a unique visual expression of history and subsequently, culture.