History of Dragons: Their Influence on Life and Culture

This book takes a comprehensive look at dragons, our most popular and beloved mythological creature, from a cultural and historical perspective. From Chinese Imperial dragons to the worms and wyverns of English folklore, dragons appear in myths and legends around the world and throughout history.  Follow the evolution of the dragon from creation myths through to Medieval and Viking dragons and on to our present-day love of this mythological beast. Across the globe, dragons appear in almost every culture but their appearance, stories and meaning differ.  We will take a tour through time and look more closely at the myths, tales and legends of different cultures. Throughout society and culture, dragons have played various roles alongside humans ? as creators, enemies, treasure hoarders, and allies. They are part and parcel of the rich mythology and legends that are the backbone of any culture. They live in our imagination and our psyche. And whilst they have a long history of focusing in literature, they now also appear on our screens from treasure-hoarding dragons to cute, adorable creatures.   Packed with tales from around the world and illustrations and images of dragons through time, this is an essential guide for dragon lovers everywhere. AUTHOR: Sarah-Beth Watkins is the best-selling author of Tudor and Stuart non-fiction books including Lady Katherine Knollys: The Unacknowledged Daughter of King Henry VIII and The Tudor Brandons. Her love of writing has seen her articles published in various publications over the past twenty years. She grew up in Kew, not far from Richmond and Hampton Court Palace, and was often to be found as a child soaking up history at Ham House. She now lives in Ireland.