A New History of Gardening examines the social and political issues associated with gardening. Martin Hoyles aims to show how our contemporary concept of the garden and our approaches to gardening have been shaped since medieval times. How did enclosure affect access to the countryside? Why have Arab and Aztec influences been played down? What effects did the industrial revolution have on attitudes to parks and the countryside? How does the relationship between the grand estate and an everyday garden mirror societal divisions? Full of historical curiosities and details and illustrated throughout, this book is aimed at the millions of gardeners who want to think more about the implications of gardening and to find ways in which their pleasure in gardening can be achieved by all.