DOI: https://doi.org/10.15368/theses.2012.105
Available at: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/788
Date of Award
6-2012
Degree Name
MA in History
Department/Program
History
Advisor
Hopper
Abstract
This thesis examines the history of botanical gardens and their evolution
from ancient spaces to the modern gardens of the 20th century. I provide a brief
overview of botanical gardens, with a focus on the unique intersection of public
participation and scientific study that started to occur within garden spaces during
the 20th century, which still continues today. I reveal the history of gardens that
influenced the uses of gardens today, with a focus on: the first ancient gardens
and the dependency societies had on them, the influence of science in gardens
starting in the Enlightenment period, the shift away from scientific gardens and
the introductions of public gardens in the early 20th century, and the
reintroduction of science into gardens during the conservation movement of the
1950s.