"Written by distinguished international scholars, the essays cover a full range of topics, including city planning, iconography in painting and sculpture, East-West connections, the power of images, and the role of the artist. Beautifully illustrated with more than 450 works of art - many published for the first time - this book presents a spectacular selection of decorative arts, textiles, silver, sculpture, paintings, and furniture. Scholarly entries on some 300 objects highlight various cultural influences and differences throughout this vast region. This groundbreaking book also includes an illustrated chronology, informative maps, and an exhaustive bibliography."--Provided by the publisher.