Great Cities: Their History and Culture

Description

Delve into the social and cultural history of 100 of the world's most important cities. From the first towns in Mesopotamia to today's global metropolises, cities have marked the progress of civilization. Written in the form of illustrated "biographies", Great Cities offers a rich historical overview of each featured city, brought to vivid life with maps, timelines, paintings, photographs, and artefacts. The latest title in the series style of Artists, Writers, Philosophers, and Composers, this lavish book goes under the skin of cities both ancient and modern - from Persepolis and Tikal, Paris and Vienna to Prague, Amsterdam, Tokyo, and Dubai. Which ancient civilization founded the precursor to Mexico City? Why was Venice the gateway to the East? What was the Belle Epoque? Which was the first city to build sewers? Great Cities takes you there. Stunning images of city life and key moments in history are complemented by close-ups of revealing details and feature panels that provide additional context. A book not just about history but also about art, architecture, commerce, and politics, Great Cities provides a fascinating insight into what has shaped where we live. Perfect for history, geography, and arts enthusiasts and a stunning gift for armchair explorers of all ages, it is your window into the world's most fascinating cities. CONTENTS Introduction CHAPTER 1 CENTRES OF ANCIENT AND LOST CIVILIZATIONS Rome Athens Istanbul Jerusalem Persepolis Delhi Hampi Xi’an Mexico City Tikal Cusco More Great Cities CHAPTER 2 GREAT RIVER CITIES London Paris Florence Prague Vienna Berlin Moscow Cairo Varanasi Bangkok Québec City New Orleans More Great Cities CHAPTER 3 MARITIME CITIES Dublin Amsterdam Stockholm Lisbon Barcelona Venice Cape Town Shanghai Sydney San Francisco New York City Havana Buenos Aires More Great Cities CHAPTER 4 CITIES BY DESIGN St Petersburg Isfahan Singapore Kyoto Washington, DC Brasília More Great Cities CHAPTER 5 MODERN METROPOLISES Dubai Beijing Hong Kong Seoul Tokyo Los Angeles More Great Cities Index Acknowledgments