Relevance of the Concept of Garden in Medieval Islamic Andalusia to Contemporary Discourse on Climate Change

Abstract

Contemporary discourse on climate change lays emphasis on reduction of greenhouse gases and plantation of more trees to expand the green cover. Almost similar type of emphasis was stressed upon by the Muslim rulers of medieval Islamic Andalusia, who while building large palaces also laid stress on creating gardens and landscapes where fruit-bearing trees, variety of flowers and plants of different species were planted. The notion of garden was inspired by Quranic teachings and the quadripartite pattern of gardens developed by the Umayyad rulers was emulated by their successors. The scientific management of gardens by the medieval rulers of Islamic Andalusia bears relevance in the contemporary discourse on climate change and is worth emulating to enhance resilience against the vagaries of climate change.

Keywords: climate change, gardens, Alhambra, Umayyads, Granada, Sects Era