Geopolitics of Tabula Rasa: Persian Garden and the Idea of City

Persian gardens, traditionally symbols of ordered landscapes and royal leisure, are revealed as fundamental spatial devices that establish sovereign power over territory. In the harsh Iranian plateau, these gardens functioned as micro-cosmic 'camps,' providing essential conditions for life to flourish within a 'tabula rasa' landscape. This study demonstrates how Persian gardens blurred distinctions between various forms of life, creating an 'ideal life' where kings represented divine authority and cities embodied paradise. By analyzing the geopolitical implications of these gardens, the research challenges conventional interpretations, emphasizing their role in shaping urban landscapes and political structures.

Khosravi, H. (2014). GEOPOLITICS OF TABULA RASA: PERSIAN GARDEN AND THE IDEA OF CITY. Journal of Architecture and Urbanism, 38(1), 39–53. https://doi.org/10.3846/20297955.2014.897017