From Stonehenge to the Empire State Building, and from Angkor Wat to the Pyramids, this book surveys every continent to discover the most impressive, exotic and intriguing man-made wonders of the world. Arranged in order of longitude, and illustrated with over 100 spectacular photographs, maps and illustrations, 50 Wonders of the World reveals the awesome architectural achievements that man has created over the centuries. This is also the story of the extraordinary peoples and civilizations that created these buildings and the key roles they played as centres of religion, culture or trade. Hagia Sophia; Sydney Opera House; Altamira; Dome of the Rock; Easter Island statues; Chartres; Petra; Empire State Building; Eiffel Tower; Peterhof; Golden Gate Bridge; Neuschwanstein; Solovetsky Island; Lincoln Memorial; Florence Duomo; Minaret of Jam; Monte Alban; Colosseum; Red Fort; Chichen Itza; Pantheon; Golden Temple; Tikal; Grand Canal; Taj Mahal; Machu Picchu; Parthenon; Mahabalipuram; Nasca; Knossos; Angkor Wat; Tiahuanaco; Pyramids of Giza; Potala Palace; Brasilia; Abu Simbel; Borobodur; Clifton Suspension Bridge; St Catherine's Monastery; Great Wall of China; Stonehenge; Forbidden City; Alhambra; Djenne Mosque; Itsukushima shrine; Guggenheim Museum Bilbao; Great Zimbabwe; Todai-ji; Sagrada Familia; Lalibela.

Author Biography

Hugh Thomson is an unusual combination of writer, film-maker and explorer. Hugh has led many expeditions to Peru, starting in 1982 when he was 21, and has now become one of Britain's foremost modern explorers of Inca settlements. His recent memoir Tequila Oil: Getting Lost in Mexico describes his early experiences travelling through that country and his interest in the Maya.