Iran is the home of one of the world’s oldest continuous major civilization with historical and urban settlements dating back to 4000 B.C. The Medes unified Iran as a nation and became an empire in 625 B.C. The Achaemenid Empire (550-330 B.C) was the first Iranian empire to rule Middle East and central Asia.
Darius I (521-485 B.C) built a ceremonial capital at Persepolis and an administrative capital at Susa. The latter was a walled and moated city, a Paridaeza, a city in garden and a garden in city. When Cyrus younger showed the palace at Sardis to a Greek in 407 B.C. he called it Paridaeza, and explained. Precise geometric regularity was the outstanding characteristics of Persian garden. It was combined with mystical love of flowers, trees and above all water. Water was used in channels and trees were planted in rows.
Persia was conquered by Arabs in 7th century and deeply influenced by the Islam, but Islamic gardens were greatly influenced by Persian tradition of garden making. The Bulkwara palace in Samara is very much part of the Persian tradition and had a quadrant and pavilions. Similarly this style was widely copied in Moorish garden of Alhambra (Spain) to mogul gardens of India.
Persia was conquered by the Mongol including Genghis Khan (1219) and by Timur Timurlane (1381). They caused vast destruction but adopted the language and culture of Persia. Timur Timurlane transported Persian craftsman to his capital at Samar Kand now in Uzbekistan.
This was succeeded by Selencid Empire, Parithiens and Sessanid which governed Iran for almost 100 years. The end of Sessanid Empire was a turning point in Iranian history. Islamization in Iran took place during 8 to 10th century and led to eventual decline of Zoroastrian religion in Persia and was absorbed by Islamic polity.
Iran had been monarchy ruled by Shah or Emperor from 1501 until 1979 almost without interruption but with the success of strong Iranian Cultural Revolution succeeded and then Iran become an Islamic Republic on 1st April 1979.
Part of Iran’s terrain is comprised of hills and peaks which are covered with snow. The melting of snow becomes a source of water during spring and summer for irrigating the fields. Part of Iran is desert. Thus, Iran’s climate ranges from arid to semi-arid and subtropical along Caspician coast and northern forests.
On the northern edge of the country (The Caspician-Coastal plain) temperature rarely falls below freezing during winter and area remains humid for the rest of the year. Summer temperatures on the other hand rarely exceed 29°C whereas rainfall is about 70 cm. in eastern part of plains and more those 170 cm in the western part. In the west, Zagros basin experience lower temperatures and severe winter below zero degree and experience heavy snow fall.
It central and eastern basins, the climate is arid with less them 20 cm rain. Average summer temperature exceeds 38°C. The coastal plains of the Persian gulf and gulf of Oman in southern Iran have mild winter and very hot and humid summers. The annual rainfall of the area varies from 15 to 30 cm.
Iran enjoys sunny days and plenty of sun shines during most part of the year. During spring orchards of almond, peach and plum are in full bloom. The temperature of Tehran varies from -3-7°C during winter nights and 37°C in July.
Due to dry heat of Iran, shade is very important in the garden without which it could not be usable. Trees and trellises largely feature as biotic shade whereas pavilions and walls are also structurally prominent in blocking the sun.
Similarly the presence of water in the garden is important. A form of underground tunnel below the water table called quanat is used to irrigate the garden and to improve the environments of the garden. Well like structures then connected to quanat enabling the drawing of water.
In past, Persian wheel, an animal drawn system to draw the water from well to the surface was used. Such wheel systems could also be used to assure surface water system. Such systems were earlier existed in chahar bagh style.
Persian Garden Style:
The Persian gardens were born as a result of the harsh landscape of Iran. Persian gardens are synonym of Paradise. The Persian word paradise simply means wall enclosure. It may have been driven from Avestan root i.e. pairi (around) and diz (shape). Avestan is an East Iranian Language.
The Avstan word pairidieza is from Old Persian word paridaida, paridaiza (wall garden) was translated into Greek-paradeisoz. Then adopted into Latin language as paradisus, and from there it entered into European language, e.g. French-Paradis, German- Paradies and English Paradise. Then the word entered into Semitic languages as well: Akkadian-pardesu; Hebrew-pardes and Arabic-Firdaws.
As the word expresses, such gardens would have been enclosed. The garden purpose was to provide a place for protected relaxation in a variety of manners i.e. spiritual and leisurely and is essentially paradise on earth. The Persian word for enclosed space was pairidaeza—a term was adopted by Christian’s mythology to describe the Garden of Eden or Paradise on earth.