In the Beginning
- Ancient Mesopotamian, Persian, and Egyptian Design
- African Design
- Minoan, Mycenaean, and Greek Design
- Etruscan and Roman Design
- Chinese Design
After the Fall of Rome
- Early Christian and Byzantine Design
- Romanesque Design in Western Europe
- Gothic Design
Enlightenment
- Renaissance Design in Italy
- Renaissance Design in the Iberian Peninsula and Central Europe
- Renaissance Design in the Low Countries and England
New Horizons
- Latin American Design
- Continental European Design in Colonial America
- English Design in Colonial America
Power and Prestige
- Baroque and Rococo Design
- Neoclassical and Empire Design
The Modern World
- Design of the Industrial Revolution
- Twentieth-Century Eclectic Design
- Japanese Design
- Twentieth-Century Design (to Mid-Century)
- Twentieth-Century Design (from Mid-Century)
- Includes major architects and designers from each period with identifying characteristics of their designs
- Presents examples of indigenous housing from all regions to help students see the progressive development of housing, architecture, and how structures are developed to serve the needs and desires of the people who must live inside them
- Part Introductions include a map, Style Comparison Table and Timeline
- "Influences" in text margins spotlight how specific elements from each period influence design in future periods
- Extensive glossary includes phonetic spellings of key terms
- Instructor's Guide provides suggestions for planning the course and using the text in the classroom