An analysis of Iranian Gardening since the Beginning of the Achaemenid Dynasty to the End of the Pahlavi Era

Persian gardens, whose background dates back to the Achaemenid dynasty have always been influenced by some of the main characteristics of Iran's culture, religion and civilization in design onone hand and, on the other hand the environmental conditions. The general pattern of the design of these gardens has been based on Charbaghi design since the beginning of the Achaemenid rule until the end of the Qajar period; however, by the end of Qajar period and from the beginning of the Pahlavi era, this type of design pattern is influenced by the modernity and Western architectural style. Also, the retrieval of the concepts inherent in the Iranian gardens requires the recognition of the religion and their views on nature and the main characteristics of the ideal paradise per each. Hence, the current paper aims to explore the features and patterns of garden design as well as the effective factors in shaping them since the beginning of the Achaemenid rule to the end of the Pahlavi era. This is an analytical - descriptive research with a historical and deductive approach. Data was collected purposefully using library tools and research studies. The results of the current paper show that the formation of urban parks during the first Pahlavi period in Iran has been caused by different domestic and foreign factors. On the other hand, the first urban parks in Tehran and Iran have been influenced by Western landscape architectural styles. In a general conclusion, Iranian gardens are cultural, historical, and physical phenomena in the territory of Iran. Also, in most texts related to the gardens of the Islamic period, reference is made to paradise in their design. In this school, natural elements such as water and plants are considered as divine signs, and they are of such importance that repeatedly referred to in Islamic texts.