Golden Kingdoms

This volume accompanies a major international loan exhibition featuring more than three hundred works of art, many rarely or never before seen in the United States. It traces the development of gold working and other luxury arts in the Americas from antiquity until the arrival of Europeans in the early sixteenth century. Presenting spectacular works from recent excavations in Peru, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Mexico, this exhibition focuses on specific places and times—crucibles of innovation—where artistic exchange, rivalry, and creativity led to the production of some of the greatest works of art known from the ancient Americas. The book and exhibition explore not only artistic practices but also the historical, cultural, social, and political conditions in which luxury arts were produced and circulated, alongside their religious meanings and ritual functions. Golden Kingdoms creates new understandings of ancient American art through a thematic exploration of indigenous ideas of value and luxury. Central to the book is the idea of the exchange of materials and ideas across regions and across time: works of great value would often be transported over long distances, or passed down over generations, in both cases attracting new audiences and inspiring new artists. The idea of exchange is at the intellectual heart of this volume, researched and written by twenty scholars based in the United States and Latin America.

With colorful, vivid photography and insightful commentary this pictorial and Thailand travel guide offers readers a glimpse at a dynamic country and its people. Thailand has many claims on the title "Golden Kingdom." It is a country of shimmering wats, its monarchy is still deeply revered and it exerts a magic all of its own. This travel book captures that magic with stunning photographs of all aspects of Thai life, and makes an ideal souvenir for any visitor to the country. Included are sections on history and geography, as well as the cultural and religious heritage that is unique to Thailand. Sections on festivals and collectibles, and a portrayal of Thai–style art and architecture are full of detail. Thailand: The Golden Kingdom portrays both the Thai people and their beautiful home in a cornucopia of color and design. This volume is a stunning visual representation of all aspects of the Thai culture and life. Author and long–term resident William Warren, provides an insightful overview of the history and geography of the kingdom, as well as a detailed exploration of the rich tradition of Thai arts and crafts, religion and cultural events. Soaking up the sun on a beach, visiting a wat, partaking in one of the numerous festivals or browsing in the art and antique shops are all part of the essentially "Thai Experience" shared here.

"The Silla Kingdom, which flourished in Korea from 57 B.C. to 935 A.D., is known for its intricately crafted ornaments, many in resplendent gold, and for the creation of prominent Buddhist temples. Silla focuses on the striking artistic traditions of the Old and Unified Silla Kingdoms (4th-8th century), and is the first publication in English to explore the artistic and cultural legacy of this ancient realm. Among the topics explored are Korea's position as the eastern culmination of the Silk Road in the first millennium A.D. and the character and evolution of Buddhism, as illuminated by objects from major monuments, temples, and tombs. The book also presents new research about Silla's ancient capital, Gyeongju, which is known for the Gyerim-ro Dagger, as well as the pottery, glass, and beads discovered in tombs located there." -- Publisher's description.

One of the most persistent legends in the annals of New World exploration is that of the Land of Gold. This mythical site was located over vast areas of South America (and later, North America); the search for it drove some men mad with greed and, as often as not, to their untimely deaths. In this history of quest and adventure, Robert Silverberg traces the fate of Old World explorers lured westward by the myth of El Dorado. From the German conquistadores licensed by the Spanish king to operate out of Venezuela, to the journeys of Gonzalo Pizarro in the Amazon basin, and to the nearly miraculous voyage of Francisco Orellana to the mouth of the Amazon River, encountering the warlike women who gave the river its name, violence and bloodshed accompanied the determined adventurers. Sir Walter Raleigh and a host of other explorers spent small fortunes and many lives trying to locate Manoa, a city that was rumored to be El Dorado—City of Gold. Celebrated science fiction author Robert Silverberg recreates these legendary quests in The Golden Dream: Seekers of El Dorado.

In his breakthrough first novel, Robert Gruber takes us to Aquapoint, a distant planet in the Witch's Broom Nebula. Here we learn of the plight of the dwarves and elves who live under the harsh rule of cruel warlocks and witches. But a powerful force known as the Golden Kingdom is aiding the little people. In this fight for survival, the young witch Maria and her warlock brother Braunski are faced with the decision of their lives. Watch as a grim plot slowly unfolds to silence the weak. If you like CS Lewis' The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, then you will love the enchanted buzzard, the fiendish witch, and the golden catapults in this tale. Come along for the ride, and fire up both canisters of your long-distance broom. Ultimately, this book is about courage, compassion, and the power that leads to freedom. Read The Golden Kingdom, and enter the dangerous world Maria and Braunski have inherited.

Alexander Cold, his grandmother Kate, and his closest friend Nadia return in the follow-up to City of the Beasts on a new quest to find the fabled Golden Dragon of the Himalayas, another fantastical voyage of suspense, magic, and awe-inspiring adventure from internationally celebrated novelist Isabel Allende. Not many months have passed since teenager Alexander Cold followed his bold grandmother into the heart of the Amazon to uncover its legendary Beast. This time, reporter Kate Cold escorts her grandson and his closest friend, Nadia, along with the photographers from International Geographic, on a journey to another location far from home. Entering a forbidden sovereignty tucked in the frosty peaks of the Himalayas, the team's task is to locate a sacred statue and priceless oracle that can foretell the future of the kingdom, known as the Golden Dragon. In their scramble to reach the statue, Alexander and Nadia must use the transcendent power of their totemic animal spirits—Jaguar and Eagle. With the aid of a sage Buddhist monk, his young royal disciple, and a fierce tribe of Yeti warriors, Alexander and Nadia fight to protect the holy rule of the Golden Dragon—before it can be destroyed by the greed of an outsider.