The book considers what the evolution of the design of the landscape reveals about the development of society and culture, examining famous cities, palaces and parks, as well as lesser-known designed landscapes, and even sites now vanished from around the world. Illustrated with hundreds of phtographs, drawings and plans, the book leads the reader through ancient cities, palatial gardens and magnificent sanctuaries. Also covered are: the royal cemeteries of ancient Egypt; the superb temples of ancient Greece and Rome; the magnificent gardens of Renaissance and Baroque Europe and the Far East; the great public parks of the late 19th century; and some of the most exciting avant-garde gardens and earth works of the present day.