The 20th century has also brought the theater cultures of the world closer together. In this handy volume, renowned theater historian Manfred Brauneck introduces the world history of an art form that has always been deeply rooted in the ritual and social life of all countries. The focus is on the great theater cultures of Europe, India, China, and Japan, which have developed their own aesthetic forms and styles over centuries. The social and cultural conditions, themes and subjects, the interplay of language, movement, dance, and music, and the purposes served by theater were also very different. However, with globalization, European artists became fascinated by the theater of foreign cultures, while outside of Europe, there began a shift towards Western theater. Contemporary theater is in many ways.