<DIV><i>The Art Atlas</i> is the first work to present the art of the entire world from ancient tomodern times through extensive use of specially commissioned maps. Coveringpainting, sculpture, and architecture as well as other arts and artifacts, the volumeprovides an entirely new vision of the history of the worldGÇÖs art by showing howphysical and political geography has shaped its developments.Over 350 pages in scope, <i>Atlas</i> compares countries separated by thousands ofmiles and many centuries, demonstrating how the art of each is affected by opportunitiesand constraints dictated by location or culture. Here, for the first time,readers can appreciate the art of prehistoric Oceania and the Nile Valley of thePharaohs alongside that of nineteenth-century Russia and the twentieth-centuryUnited States. In addition to showing where and when great artists lived andworked, <i>Atlas</i> explains how major styles developed and the ways in which art hasbeen influenced by religion, trade, travel, war, and other historical factors. The volumealso provides the first comprehensive picture of the impact of the naturalworld on the development of art, charting the sources of fibers for weaving, pigmentsfor coloring, wood for carving, paper for printing, and stone for use insculpture and architecture.With its combination of enormous breadth and constant clarity of focus,abdundant illustrations and a user-friendly, searchable CD, <i>Atlas</i> provides exceptionalinsight into what unites art and what makes it so varied. Organized intoseven chronological periods and including contributions from 68 internationallyrenowned art historians, The <i>Art Atlas</i> is an original, comprehensive and up-todatereference work that will be a benchmark for many years to come.</DIV>