From Rome's Parthenon to Istanbul's Hagia Sophia; from the ancient
village of Petra to Beijing's Forbidden City; from New York's Empire
State Building to the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, this visually
stunning collection of 100 milestones of architectural history explores
how they changed the course of architecture forever. Why do some
buildings stand the test of time? What makes a building unique, or
groundbreaking? How do function, environment, and technology impact an
architect's vision? These questions and more are succinctly addressed in
this wide-ranging tour of 100 of the world's most important manmade
structures. This compilation spans the ancient to the modern eras and
represents nearly every continent. Gorgeous photographs of each building
are featured in double-page spreads, which include concise texts
offering fascinating histories and contextual information, as well as
biographies of the architects. The book also includes a glossary at the
back of the book that explains important terms. An invaluable
introduction to the world of architecture, this book guides readers
through every milestone of architectural triumph--be it an ancient city,
modern sports arena, cathedral, or office building.