Authoritative and substantive—yet accessible—this text looks at the historical and cultural contexts of art works and architecture around the world from prehistoric times to the 20th century—with detailed and informative analyses of art, artists, patrons, and techniques. A unique chronological presentation in compact topical units offers an exceptionally easy-to-use format—with general period/style introductions followed by self-contained sections on a selected number of specific representative pieces. The global focus emphasizes the diversity and commonality of human experience.