Every stage of human development abandons the track in history of civilization. But, perhaps, there are not more lasting and evident cultural certificates of one or another epoch, what her architectural building. To take the pyramids of Egypt and Central America, Стоунхендж and Great Chinese wall, Acropolis and Coliseum even. These "taciturn witnesses" of the gone centuries can "tell" a great deal about the way of life of the creators their engineer knowledge, and also about an art and philosophy by the reflection of that and there is certain style. Exactly to styles and directions in architecture and this edition is devoted.In this original encyclopaedia all stages of development of architecture found a reflection: from мегалита to contemporaneity. "Geography" of book also is very extensive - Двуречье and Ancient Rome, Russian North and Balkans, Spain and France, Germany and Great Britain, Austria and Netherlands. Edition will acquaint you with all types of architecture - from erection of by volume building to the landscape planning and town-planning, and also will tell about many famous architects - Виньоле and Палладио, Left and Лемерсье, Шлютере and Хильдебрандте. And the numerous coloured illustrations will allow to accomplish a round-the-world voyage you on places with the most meaningful architectural creations, keeping indoors from home.