Comparison between the impacts of the irrigation systems of Persian Safavid and Italian Renaissance gardens through a descriptive-historical approach

Abstract

This article is based on the comparison of the irrigation systems in gardens of two simultaneous periods but formed in two different lands, Italian Renaissance gardens and Persian Safavid gardens. The studies that have been done so far do not explicitly mention the relationship between these two gardens, and this research can be a starting point for referring to historical studies and discovering the possible connections and their effects on each other. The research is qualitative with an interpretive historical approach that seeks to investigate the origins of the irrigation systems of Persian and Italian Villa gardens in the Renaissance period. Methodologically, this study carries out a literature review and case studies by identifying sources in historical bibliographies and archives and by observation in Persian and Italian Renaissance gardens. The result shows some crucial changes occurred to Italian gardens which transformed the form and figure of the gardens. The first and most important one was the creation of running water. According to historical records, two important events are recognised for their impact on the irrigation system: the first was the influence between gardens within and after the Crusader period and the second was Navagaro letters and the impact of Islamic Andalusian gardens on Italian Renaissance gardens.

Keywords

• irrigation system
• italian renaissance gardens
• persian safavid gardens