In the area of the Mediterranean, Egypt, Mesopotamia, China and Central America, written and archaeological evidence has been found of the existence of landscaped gardens, parks and menageries that can be considered the forerunners of today's botanical gardens and zoos. The care of such gardens was led by professional gardeners, who were appreciated and rewarded for their work. The remains of animals found in elite tombs near Hierakonpolis prove that 3790 - 3640 BC. there was at least one large menagerie at that location in which domesticated but also wild and exotic animals were kept. In Mesopotamia, the existence of gardens and hunting parks was documented around 2000 BC. After the conquest of Mesopotamia and Egypt, the Persian emperors gave the gardens a new, more orderly appearance. The gardens were called pairi-daēza ("surrounded by a wall"), Greek paradeisos. Recent research shows that the connection and trade of the Bronze Age Mediterranean peoples with the Middle East, Mesopotamia, India, and Egypt was much more intense than previously thought. We cannot rule out the possibility that the gardens found by the Spaniards in Central America were a source of inspiration for the creation of modern botanical gardens and zoos as we know them today. This paper is conceived as an overview of the oldest known zoos and botanical gardens sensu amplissimo and an exploration of their impact through space and time