How did Renaissance prosperity change the purposes of gardens?

During the Renaissance, increasing prosperity and a growing confidence in humanity’s ability to impose order on the natural world fundamentally shifted the purpose and design of gardens.1

While medieval gardens were primarily confined, fortified spaces designed for security or monastic utility, Renaissance gardens evolved to reflect a philosophy that humans were nature’s masters. As villas were increasingly built for amenity rather than defense, the garden transitioned from an enclosed, cloistral space into an extension of the home. This created a "coherent, complementary whole" where the house and garden were unified through axial planning and architectural elements like terraces and stairways.123

The purposes of these gardens became multifaceted:
* Social and Ceremonial: Gardens were designed for intimate use by small households, for select, discerning companies, or as spectacular, permanent theatrical performances intended to impress the multitude during state functions.1
* Artistic Expression: They functioned as open-air rooms and outdoor sculpture galleries, incorporating Classical accents such as grottoes, fountains, and nymphaea.1
* Demonstration of Power: By harnessing nature—such as using water for elaborate fountains or "water organs"—owners showcased their ability to reshape the environment to suit their aesthetic and social ambitions.1