中文简介：

在这部备受赞誉的参考书中，大卫·沃特金（David Watkin）追溯了西方建筑从最早的美索不达米亚和埃及到20世纪末的历史。在第七版中，修订作者欧文·霍普金斯（Owen Hopkins）提供了一个新的介绍，将沃特金的方法联系起来。霍普金斯重新编写了最后一章，讲述了再利用、数字城市和虚拟建筑等21世纪的话题。

英文简介：

In this highly acclaimed reference work David Watkin traces the history of western architecture from the earliest times in Mesopotamia and Egypt to the late twentieth century. For this seventh edition, revising author Owen Hopkins provides a new introduction contextualizing Watkin's approach. The final chapter on the twenty-first century has been completely rewritten by Hopkins, who brings the story right up to date with the inclusion of such topics as re-use, digital cities and virtual architecture.