Best Selling Books by Philip Wilkinson

In this text children are shown the customs and rituals that help people to live in groups. They can look at the ceremonies concerned with hunting, sowing crops and the harvest, and see how many have their roots in religious beliefs. They can also observe the rituals which surround eating, learn how the everyday practice of giving and receiving gifts is steeped in ritual, and see how people settle their differences in various traditional ways, from a straight fight to more complex song-duels and drumming contests.

Discusses various modes of transportation on wheels, on water, on the tracks, in the air and in space.

Explores initiation rites, wedding feasts, harvest celebrations, religious rituals, and many other customs used around the world to mark all kinds of special occasions. Suggested level: intermediate, junior secondary.

Delve into the social and cultural history of 100 of the world''s most important cities. From the first towns in Mesopotamia to today''s global metropolises, cities have marked the progress of civilization. Written in the form of illustrated "biographies", Great Cities offers a rich historical overview of each featured city, brought to vivid life with paintings, photographs, timelines, maps, and artefacts. The latest title in the series style of Artists, Writers, Philosophers, and Composers, this lavish book goes under the skin of cities both ancient and modern - from Persepolis and Tikal, Paris and Vienna to Prague, Amsterdam, Tokyo, and Dubai. Which ancient civilization founded the precursor to Mexico City? Why was Venice the gateway to the East? What was the Belle Epoque? Which was the first city to build sewers? Great Cities takes you there, and tells you all this and more. Stunning images of city life and key moments in history are complemented by close-ups of revealing details and feature panels that provide additional context. A book not just about history but also about art, architecture, commerce, and politics, Great Cities provides a fascinating insight into what has shaped the places where we live. Perfect for history, geography, and arts enthusiasts and a stunning gift for armchair explorers of all ages, it is your window into the world''s most fascinating cities.

Amazing Super Structures looks at the finest feats of humans, from bridges and tunnels to skyscrapers and rollercoasters. Full color.

A reference book for modern kids and teens that presents fun information about history, science, nature, geography, and culture.

¿Cuál es la diferencia entre una columna dórica y una jónica? ¿Cuál es la función de un arbotante? ¿Cuáles son los principios rectores de la arquitectura moderna? ¿En qué se diferencia la restauración de la conservación? Si alguna vez ha querido conocer las respuestas a estas preguntas —o se ha preguntado cuándo un edifi cio es sólo un edifi cio y cuándo es una obra de arte—, 50 cosas que hay que saber sobre arquitectura es la introducción perfecta al mundo de la arquitectura.

From lightning-wielding Zeus, the supreme Greek god, to protective Hathor, the Egyptian goddess of love - heroes, gods, and monsters are brought to life in these retellings of myths from around the world. Myths, Legends, and Sacred Stories is a children''s book that invites you to explore all the well-known stories from Greek and Norse mythology, and a range of other cultures across more than 100 tales. Discover the fascinating myths of Anansi, the West African trickster god who takes the form of a spider; the story of the Wawilak Sisters of Arnhem Land in northern Australia, who form the land as they walk across it; or the Slavic tale of Ivan as he chases the mischievous Firebird. Read about ferocious, man-eating monsters such as the Minotaur and Fafnir the dragon, and the legendary heroes that fought them, like Theseus and Sigurd. Also included are the legends of Robin Hood, and of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, epics from Asia, such as the Mahabharata and Gilgamesh, and a host of tales from Aztec mythology and a range of other cultures. As well as offering the retellings themselves, Myths, Legends, and Sacred Stories: a visual encyclopedia investigates the meanings of these primal stories, examining why these tales have stood the test of time over thousands of years. Themed features draw together elements that are common to myths from all over the world, such as shapeshifters, mythical beasts, and magical weapons. Panels on modern retellings, such as Percy Jackson and The Little Mermaid, help to show why these myths are still relevant to our lives today.

Nachschlagewerk für die wichtigsten Religionen der Welt.

21 hauts lieux de l''architecture : leur histoire, les hommes qui les ont bâtis, les techniques et les matériaux. Le palais de Minos, l''Alhambra de Grenade, la cathédrale de Chartres, le palais impérial de Pékin, le pavillon royal de Brighton, la maison Van Eetvelde, le SkyDome de Toronto, Notre-Dame du Haut à Ronchamp, la statue de la Liberté à New York, l''Opéra de Sydney...

Describes the voyage of Apollo 11, its three astronauts, and details of the mission that put the first man on the moon in 1969.

Although the title makes it sound like a reference book, it is so much more than that. The style of writing is engaging and informative. The layout is attractive, with beautiful illustrations, photos, period paintings, quotes, and interesting inserts on every page. Wilkinson''s history unfolds like a symphonic work with instrument makers, composers and virtuosic performers picking up these incredible creations and exposing their beauty and capability. To open it up is to be instantly hooked. -- Publishers Weekly The 400-year story of music told by the instruments that make an orchestra. The History of Music in Fifty Instruments outlines musical history in well-written nuggets of information. Profiling one instrument at a time, it describes the history of music since the 1700s, when orchestras first took the formal shape familiar to us. The concise text explains the role of each instrument in the orchestra and its importance in the development of music in general. The book lists the 50 instruments chronologically in the woodwind, brass, percussion and string sections of an orchestra. The classic instruments are included -- violin, cello, flute, oboe, clarinet, harp and more. Some instruments reflect the musical period or context in which they were most popular, such as the harpsichord in the Baroque period, and the snare drum in military parades. Among the unusual instruments is the otherworldly theremin. A wide range of modern and archival photographs and paintings show the instruments. Entries outline their historical and country origins and the era in which they were played (e.g. Classical, Modern). Annotated illustrations explain the instrument''s construction, how it is played and tuned, and its musical range. Composers, musical compositions and musicians that highlight the particular instrument are examined. For example, Baroque composer Antonio Vivalidi''s contribution to the violin; inventor Adolphe Sax''s tenacious promotion of his saxophone in the 1840s; and 20th century pianist Glenn Gould''s controversial recordings of Bach''s Goldberg Variations. For musicians, teachers and students, and all who enjoy music, this book is a beautiful and informative tour of the orchestra and beyond.

"Young children can harness their reading superpowers as they blast off into space along with Apollo 11, to learn about the astronauts, the spacecraft, the science and the very first Moon walk"--

Describes the art and technique of how things are built, from mud huts to city skyscrapers.

Each volume in the set presents brief descriptions of one hundred topics within that volume''s subject area.

Des hiéroglyphes de l''Ancienne Egypte aux logos des sociétés modernes, en passant par les emblèmes maçonniques ou l''iconographie religieuse, toutes ces représentations, dont le sens nous échappe parfois, font l''objet d''une analyse passionnante et superbement illustrée grâce à près de 1500 photos.

Pourquoi embaumait-on les morts en Égypte ? La guerre de Troie a-t-elle eu lieu ? Que symbolise la quête du Graal ? Qui sont les chamans d''Afrique ? De l''Europe à l''Asie, de l''Afrique à l''Océanie, ce Petit Larousse illustré vous propose un voyage passionnant à travers les légendes et les mythes du monde entier. Qu''il s''agisse des sagas des dieux nordiques, des héros de la Grèce ancienne, du serpent à plumes des Aztèques ou des grandes œuvres fondatrices telles que l''Odyssée, l''épopée indienne du Ramayana, ou le Popol-Vuh, les récits qui forment la trame de cet ouvrage ont gardé tout leur pouvoir évocateur.

Découvrez l''islam à travers son histoire, les piliers de sa foi, ses lieux saints, ses grandes figures, ses cultures et son enseignement. Qui était le Prophète ? Qu''est-ce que le Coran, qu''est-ce qu''une sourate ? Comment cette religion s''est-elle répandue à travers le monde ? Quelles sont les fêtes musulmanes ? Faites connaissance avec une religion aux multiples facettes.

Dieux et prophètes : approfondissez votre connaissance des divinités et des figures saintes de chaque foi. Religions du monde : explorez les principales religions du monde, ainsi que les croyances moins connues d''Afrique et des Amériques. Rituels, rites et fêtes : découvrez les pratiques et traditions religieuses de chaque système de croyances, des dévotions quotidiennes aux événements clés du calendrier liturgique. L''origine de la foi : l''origine et l''histoire de chaque religion de sa fondation à sa diffusion dans le monde.

Quels sont les différents types de châteaux forts ? Qui les habitait ? Comment se déroulait un siège ? les compacts vous donnent toutes les clés pour bien connaître les châteaux forts.