Nowadays, when the issues of artistic culture and aesthetic education have taken an extremely important place in the life of the peoples of the USSR, the interest of Soviet people in the artistic culture of countries and peoples of the world is growing. The flowering of architecture and fine arts in the Soviet Union and other socialist countries Growing progressive trends in the art of capitalist countries , Art, born in countries, Abandoning the yoke of colonialism, contemporary artistic life and treasures of the culture of past eras - more and more attract attention. The expansion of the cultural ties of the USSR with foreign countries, with all progressive humanity introduces new countries and peoples into the circle of artistic interests of Soviet people. To satisfy these interests and aims encyclopedia "Art of countries and peoples of the world" . The task of our publication is to give in a brief encyclopedic form a broad picture of the artistic development of mankind from ancient times to the present time. Grouping material by countries of national schools , encyclopedia seeks to identify in each of them advanced realistic trends and directions , show the struggle of these trends with reactionary phenomena in art, the role of progressive trends and schools in the development of diverse world artistic culture . Encyclopedia "Art of countries and peoples of the world", together with its complementary dictionary of architectural and artistic concepts and terms, is a new type of universal guide to architecture and fine art. Its four volumes cover the artistic culture of more than 200 countries and peoples. Many articles of the encyclopedia introduce previously unknown or poorly researched monuments and new factual data into scientific use; a number of articles are devoted to the art of countries and peoples whose artistic culture has not previously received assessments in Soviet and world science. In contrast to the available reference books, covering most often only certain branches of artistic culture, this encyclopedia aims to provide comprehensive coverage of issues of architecture, urban planning, painting, sculpture, graphics, decorative arts and crafts; The material of folk art . is widely attracted. Architecture is considered in the encyclopedia as an integral part of the artistic culture of mankind, while the material and technical side of architectural creativity is illuminated to the necessary extent. Each volume of the encyclopedia contains about 2500 illustrations and a large number of maps. All the main centers of art history of our country take part in the work on the encyclopedia. Members of the Editorial Board, Author of articles, Reviewers, Consultants , freelance editors of the 1st volume are employees of the Academy of Arts of the USSR , Academy and Architecture of the USSR , the Institute of Art History of the USSR Ministry of Culture , The State Museum of Fine Arts . A. C. Pushkin, State Hermitage Museum, institutes. Academies of Sciences of the Union Republics, museums, architectural institutions, higher educational institutions, representatives of various scientific and creative collectives of the Union and Autonomous Republics of the USSR . Foreign specialists are also involved in cooperation in the encyclopedia. Experts of related sciences actively participate in the preparation of the publication: archaeologists, ethnographers, historians, geographers. Consultation and review of articles on architecture were systematically conducted by the staff of the Institute of Theory and History of Architecture and Construction Equipment of the Academy of Construction and Architecture of the USSR; the constant assistance of the editorial office was provided by the staff of the Union of Architects of the USSR (M.) N. Gol nearsova and others.. [ Union of Artists of the USSR (O.) and . Porhailo, L. and . Fedorova et al . ).