Gardens have an important traditional role throughout the history of Islam. In this one-time course, we will explore specific examples of gardens noted not only for their beauty and exquisite design, but also for the unique role they played in power dynamics throughout history. We will begin with a brief sketch of the political dynamics specific to ancient Islam, then move onto where and how gardens enter into Islamic culture and tradition. The second portion of class will consist of an outline of particularly important, impressive, and otherwise breathtaking gardens and how they were used strategically throughout Islamic history. We will discuss the design of the garden at Pasargadae, Agdal gardens of Marrakech, the extensive history of Safavid dynasty gardens, and finish with the legendary gardens of the Emperor Babur. Students will leave this class with a greater appreciation of the purposeful craftsmanship and inherent meaning of gardens in ancient Islam.