Step inside Sweden, land of contradictions. Discover the secrets of one of the world’s most equitable economies. Meet King Carl XVI Gustaf, Sweden’s head of state. Meet the rugged Nordic race who inhabit this land of ice, snow, and midnight sun. Let Sweden’s starkly beautiful lake and forest landscapes fill you with serenity....

An unparalleled visual account of the world of the cradles, a movement that re-established trade between the East and the West, had a lasting impact on the social structure of medieval Europe, and bought Arabic learning to the wider world....

This lavish visual history traces and records the development of Britain's finest secular buildings in the years up to 1486. It describes and explains the changes in method and style from the ancient earthworks and Roman forts to the splendors of castle building....

Japan is a major economic power, and average income levels and standards of living are among the highest in the world. There is always a keen interest in the Japanese people and their culture. Features of the series include: main chapters that focus on geography, people and culture, history, government and economy, and nature; 'At a Glance' double spreads to present a maximum amount of information in a minimal amount of space, utilizing charts, tables, time lines, and other highly visual elements; and, full-page maps that highlight physical features, vegetation and ecosystems, history, population, and political organization. As a bonus, every photograph within each chapter is tied to a location on the main map for that chapter. Smaller maps zoom in on special topics, such as migration, rainfall, changing borders, resources, industry, and other important themes. This book includes: special feature sidebars that introduce intriguing people, places, and events; a glossary to aid in comprehension of unfamiliar terms; and, an extensive bibliography that lists books, National Geographic articles, and Web sites....

National Geographic requests the pleasure of your company on a journey to the faraway island nation of "Nippon." Japan's name means "origin of the sun" (often translated as Land of the Rising Sun)—a term born of Japan's location to the east of the ancient empires of China. Take a trip through history to discover the influence that the Chinese exerted on their island neighbors throughout antiquity. Enjoy the scenic island landscape, richly celebrated in Japanese art and literature. Scale the heights and get to know the hilly topography—mountains cover over 75 percent of Japan's landscape. Visit the National Parks that now preserve the country's treasured natural heritage.

Meet Japan's industrious people, mainly plains and lowland dwellers. Visit the teeming cities on the river deltas and coastlines, which are among the most populous places on the planet. Follow the remarkable rise of Japan's modern economy, based mainly on the manufacture of high-quality, high-tech consumer goods. Learn how exports to the world's largest markets—including the United States—have made Japan a global economic power; and how the country's average income levels and standards of living are now among the highest in the world. Experience this ethnically homogenous culture, with its unique language and alphabet, and observe the rites and rituals of its two main faiths—Buddhism and Shinto, a religion which originated in Japan....

Divided into four chronological sections this book opens with the early Tudor palaces. The next section covers the so-called 'Prodigy Houses' of the Elizabethan era, which are followed by a selection of Jacobean palaces and stately homes. The final section explores the more modern buildings of the Restoration style....

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