From prehistoric cave dwellings in Turkey to buildings designed for the 2008 Olympics, this single volume provides a concise history of architectural excellence. This book illustrates the impact of revolutionary ideas, innovative engineering and the conflicting human desires for continuity and change on world architecture. - The great empires of antiquity - the Palace at Knossos, the Citadel of Bam in Iran, Babylon's Ishtar Gate- Hellenic an Roman masterpieces - the Parthenon, the Colosseum, the Arch of Constantine- Ancient centers of worship - the Temple of Horus at Edfu, the Mayan Step Pyramid at Tikal, the Pantheon- Important religious sites - Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Jerusalem's Dome of the Rock, the Great Mosque of Damascus, Angkor Wat, Europe'sGothic cathedrals, St. Peter'sBasilica in Rome- Great engineering accomplishments - the Ziggurat, the Great Pyramid, Tokyo's Spiral Building, the World Trade Center- Castles and fortifications - Krak des Chevaliers, Poland's Malbork, Herstmonceaux and Bodian in England, Fort McHenry in Baltimore- Unforgettable sights from around the world - Machu Picchu, the Great Wall of China, the Eiffel Tower, the Taj Mahal- Outstanding residences - the Royal Crescent in Bath, Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater.