The education of a landscape architect should include a synoptic overview of the profession's history. Though the landscape profession dates from Frederick Law Olmsted's design for Central Park, in the mid-nineteenth century, the history of the art is very much older. Vitruvius, writing 2000 years ago, is a key figure, but the art was already ancient when his De Architectura was written (circa 27 BCE). Before that, the art of 'design on the land' can be traced back to Gilgamesh, to Stonehenge, to Göbekli Tepe, or, following Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe, to the prehistoric art of cave painting (as seen at Lascaux and Altamira and elsewhere). Knowledge of this history is essential for an appreciation of the theoretical context of landscape architecture and for answering the What, Why, When, How, Where, Who and What Next questions about the art of designing land for human use and enjoyment .
