History Medieval Projects

Chloe Campbell April 3, 2014 Period D

MEDIEVAL GARDENS OUTLINE

I. Gardens in the middle ages provided medicine remedies, food and beauty. A garden was usually found adjacent to the home. Gardens might be found on fertile plots of soil (such as those in lowland northern Europe) or on stony terraces cut into steep hillsides (found in Southeast Asia and south America Central America: Aztecs) In areas of low rainfall, gardens were supplied with water through irrigation ditches. A. Most rich families would have a large garden sited next to their castle or palace. Usually their gardens needed a staff of trained workers and gardeners to maintain them. Ordinary families would have a smaller garden closer to their home that they tended to themselves. B. Personal gardens could be found in medieval societies, but not in nomadic ones. Gardens were set aside for their beauty, and also for relaxing in leisure time. II. Varieties of different plants, fruits, vegetables, trees, and herbs could be used for a number of different everyday remedies. A. Plants that were grown in the garden could be found in different areas of the world. Most gardens were designed for growing food. Poor families in Europe, Africa, and Asia relied on their garden produce for survival. 1. The common vegetables found in Europe and the Middle East was peas, carrots, onions, beans, lettuce, cabbage, and garlic. 2. Fruits that were commonly found in the gardens in Asia were coconuts,

mangos, bananas, and licorice which was thought to be good for digestion 3. In Africa yams were widely grown, and in Central America (Aztecs) they grew marigolds, beans, and chilies. B. Herbs were most commonly used as medicines, and they could be dangerous at times. 1. Basil and pink carnation flowers were used for their fragrance and beauty, and chamomile was used for culinary and medicinal uses. Mint was used to cure a tooth ache or an antidote for a poison, marigolds and poppies were used to repair vision and were also used widely in cooking, and preserved rose petals were used as a cure for heart and intestinal problems. 2. Sweet smelling lavender was believed to create a calm and happy atmosphere. Roses were used as oil for curing headaches and fever, the leaves and the roots of lilies treated snake bites, and violets, rosemary flowers, rose petals, and orange flowers were popular perfumes used by kings and queens.

C. Flowers in the medieval times were associated with different feelings and meanings. 1. Love flowers were the flowers that people associated with love. These flowers include honeysuckles, rose, which symbolizes desire, thyme (herb), along with various shrubs and trees. 2. Heavenly flowers are specific flowers people associate with their religion. These include the lily, which symbolizes virginity, the violet, which symbolizes

the humility of Mary, Jesus mother, and the daisy, which symbolizes the resurrection of Christ. D. Trees had a variety of purposes in the medieval garden. 1. The willow tree was used for medicinal purposes, including chewing on the bark to reduce fever, headache, and inflammation. The bark of the white willow tree has a similar effect to aspirin. The tree brings pain relief slowly but lasts for a longer time than aspirin. 2. The shade of garden trees was pleasurable with the hot sun in the summer. There are a few trees that were considered pleasurable including the Spanish Chesnutt, the Ancient Walnut, Beech trees, Lime trees provided the leaves and the blossoms and those were used as soothing medicines and cosmetics. The Hawthorn tree blossoms were used in tea, the Dogwood trees wood was used for carving arrows and shafts, and finally the Juniper tree had its seeds and berries, and its wood made a slow burning fire. III. Medieval gardens can be found in the Washington area. There are many different types of medieval gardens. A noble medieval garden can also be called a cloister. Cloister gardens are just like regular gardens only with a stone structure around it in the shape of consecutive arches. A. The Washington National Cathedral has a medieval garden known as the bishops garden.
B. A noble medieval garden can also be called a cloister. Cloister gardens are just like

regular gardens only with a stone structure around it in the shape of consecutive arches.