A detailed tour of architecture in the western world beginning with the Egyptian pyramids and ending with the skyscrapers of the early 20th century. In between the reader encounters the architecture of the Greeks, the Romans, the early Christians, and the Saracens, followed by a treatment of Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance architectures and how they manifested differently in different countries. Amply illustrated with dozens of line drawings detailing architectural elements and floor plans, and plates showing representative buildings in their entirety. In this fine supplement to historical studies for the older student the author emphasizes the close association between the architecture of an era and the civilization that produced it, helping us see that through architecture we may grasp much of the spirit of past eras: their emotions, their aspirations, and their beliefs.