Covering the grand sweep of Western civilization from ancient to present times, this series provides basic information on the people who have contributed significantly to the culture of Western civilization. Taking the cultural approach, one not typically found in general biographical dictionaries, each volume includes literary, philosophical, artistic, military, religious, humanistic, musical, economic, and exploratory figures. Political figures are included only if they patronized the arts, and coverage focuses on their cultural impact. Figures from western European countries, such as Italy, France, England, Iberia, the Low Countries, and the Holy Roman Empire predominate, but outlying areas such as Scotland, Scandinavia, and Eastern Europe are also represented.