Product Description

Peter Whitfield's latest work, 'Cities of the World' is a fascinating and original look at the world's greatest cities, as he traces their historic form and special character through the city maps and panoramic views produced over the centuries. Illustrating the classical city-state, the medieval fortress, the baroque capital and the industrial metropolis, the images show how the architectural form and the social life of our cities have been shaped - not only by their geographical setting, but also by religion, royal power, commerce, social ideals, and occasionally artistic vision. Condensing centuries of history in one volume, 'Cities of the World' is a thought-provoking and unique book for the armchair traveller, or indeed for anyone passionate about the history of human civilisation. From Athens to Brasilia, Washington to Moscow, San Francisco to Saigon or Venice to Lhasa, 'Cities of the World' is a journey via maps, exploring man's perennial love-hate relationship with his finest, most complex and troubling creation, the city.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #226594 in Books
• Published on: 2005-09-01
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 208 pages

Review
Peter WHitfield's Cities of the World is as intriguing as it is attractive. --The Scotsman

About the Author
Peter Whitfield is an independent scholar and a leading expert in map history and exploration. He is a former director of Stanford's International Map Centre in London and now runs his own company publishing facsimiles of historic maps. He is the author of a number of bestselling books including British Library Historic Lives: Sir Francis Drake, Astrology: A History, New Found Lands, Charting of the Oceans, Mapping of the Heavens and The Image of the World (all British Library Publishing).