Garden Fountains were first used in the ancient Middle East.  Pictures drawn on the walls of ancient Egyptian tombs showed garden fountains in the courtyards of homes.  Often they were rectangular with trees lining the edges.  The shade trees and water provided a cool place to escape the hot sun.

The Persians enclosed gardens and fountain pools and made complex designs out of the architecture of these areas.  Bathing rituals were important to the Romans and so they put public baths in gardens with fountains.  In the hot deserts of the Middle East, pools and fountains provided relief from the heat.

Similar garden fountains and pools were built in Spain before the 15th century and in 17th and 18th-century India.  In China, architecture was often centered around a courtyard which included pools.  Japan also has many gardens inspired by those in China.

During the Renaissance period in Italy, gardens became more complex and used spouting fountains and waterfalls.  Other versions of the Italian Renaissance gardens began to appear throughout Europe.

In the late 18th century, gardens were designed to look like the wilderness.  Rivers and ponds were placed haphazardly with scattered trees and shrubs to look more natural.

In the 20th century, in warmer climates, gardens were often continued inside a house.  Many architects use fountains to incorporate nature into their designs.  Indoor pools and water fountains began appearing in shopping malls, office buildings, and homes.

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