Material World photographer Peter Menzel with Buddhist monks in Bhutan

1. Material World photographer Peter Menzel with Buddhist monks in Bhutan

2. United States • Third largest country; largest national economy • Three-quarters Christian • Modern societal strains

4. Bhutan • Small, mountainous country • Traditional agricultural lifestyle • Social, medical, and environmental difficulties

7. Cuba • Island country in the Caribbean • Major sugar producer in the 19th century; African slaves • Fidel Castro

9. This photograph shows the family in 2001, along with the new possessions they’d acquired since the original photograph was taken.

10. Mali • Vast mineral resources and cultural wealth • A very poor country • At one time, a very wealthy kingdom • Former French colony

12. This photograph shows the family in 2001, along with the new possessions they’d acquired since the original photograph was taken.

13. Kuwait • Small country along the Persian Gulf • Vast petroleum resources • Economy flourished in the 20th century • Severely damaged by 1990 Iraq invasion

15. South Africa • Mineral wealth • Apartheid • Soweto

17. Mongolia • Sparsely populated • Formerly communist, now democratic • One-third of people are nomadic or semi-nomadic; one-third live in the capital city

19. This photograph shows the family in 2001, along with the new possessions they’d acquired since the original photograph was taken.

20. Japan • Major changes in the past century • Most people live in urban areas on the coasts • Similarities and differences between Japanese and American families

22. This photograph shows the family in 2001, along with the new possessions they’d acquired since the original photograph was taken.

23. China • Communist Country • Most populous country with 1.4 billion people • Communist gov’t enacted one child policy to curb overpopulation, switched to two child policy in 2015

25. India • Second most populous country with 1.2 billion people • Vast terrain – from Himalayan peaks to Indian Ocean coastline • Population density is 386 people/km2

27. Iceland • A highly developed country • Natural energy resources

29. This photograph shows the family in 2004.

30. Thailand • Never colonized • Relatively stable government and growing economy • Buddhist culture

32. Samoa • Formerly called Western Samoa • Traditional culture with some modernization • Christianity

34. Mexico • World’s largest Spanish-speaking country • Rapid industrialization • Emerging middle class • Increasing urbanization