Between 1808 and 1826, all of mainland Latin America became independent from Spain and Portugal, the colonial powers that had ruled the region for three centuries. Undesirable economic restrictions and a caste system that favored those born in Europe made the conditions for revolution ripe in the Americas. Combined with the actions of insightful leaders—most notably Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín—Latin American independence was all but guaranteed. This title explores the revolutions,...

Technology has existed for as long as humankind has invented items that improve and enhance daily living. The innovators of technology profiled in this comprehensive resource have affected nearly every facet of life, from transportation and communication to science and entertainment. Their developments have built upon one another, each a stepping-stone toward even greater advances in technology. Their names range from the familiar—such as Thomas Edison—to the more obscure—such as Henrietta...

Immediately following World War II, former allies the United States and the Soviet Union began an open yet restricted rivalry that became known as the Cold War and played out around the world until the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991. Many conflicts, such as the Chinese Civil War, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Arab-Israeli wars, acted as proxy wars for the U.S.-Soviet competition. Other major issues explored in this examination of the Cold War include Europe’s Iron Curtain, the ...

The oldest organized sport in North America, lacrosse was first played by the Six Nations of the Iroquois and later adopted by European settlers in the nineteenth century. The game has evolved into a thrilling, fast-paced field sport enjoyed by players of all ages. In addition to the thousands of youth and college teams, professional leagues in the United States and Canada have raised the level of competition. Readers will discover the rules and levels of play and be introduced to some of ...

The modern period of history is often considered to have begun with the Renaissance, one of the rare periods of genius in the world’s history. This volume traces the Renaissance from its beginnings in Italy in the fourteenth century to its spread across the rest of Europe in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Along with the rediscovery of ancient Greek and Roman writing, the Renaissance represented a new age in the fields of science, literature, religion, politics, and many others. R...

The seventh planet from the sun, Uranus is known for its blue-green color and tilted axis, which makes it look like it’s spinning on its side. But what causes these distinctive features? This engaging, easy-to-follow resource gives readers insight into Uranus, from its discovery in 1781 to the latest insights about it gained from satellite images, explaining its features, conditions, rings, and moons. Sidebars define challenging vocabulary words and pose thought-provoking questions to stim...

Although once regarded as a time of uninterrupted ignorance, superstition, and social oppression, the Middle Ages are now understood as a dynamic period during which the idea of Europe as a distinct cultural unit emerged. This title dives into late antiquity and the early Middle Ages, a time when political, social, economic, and cultural structures were profoundly reorganized. As Roman imperial traditions gave way to those of the Germanic peoples who established kingdoms in the former West...

Minerals are solid, naturally occurring substances that make up much of what we use in our daily lives, from household items and medicines to food and computers. Readers will learn how minerals form, how scientists identify and classify them, where they can be found, and how they are mined from the earth. Full of fascinating facts, content-specific vocabulary, and instructive images, this resource is a valuable look into how substances from the earth shape the world we live in.

Imprisoned for twenty-seven years for protesting against South Africa’s system of apartheid, Nelson Mandela was elected the nation’s first black president and became known as one of the greatest world leaders in recent memory. His work to end apartheid and unify the people of South Africa has influenced campaigns for human rights around the world. This biography profiles his long, remarkable life, beginning with his boyhood, education, and early involvement with the African National Congre...

Lyndon B. Johnson, thrust unexpectedly into the presidency following John F. Kennedy’s assassination, ushered in a new wave of civil rights and launched a war against poverty. Though his experience as Senate majority leader helped ensure the passage of much of his domestic agenda, his administration was soon hampered by the ongoing war in Vietnam. By 1968, with the country embroiled in race riots as well as antiwar protests, Johnson declined to run for a second full term. This biography ex...

After a military career that established him as one of the most successful commanders ever, Dwight D. Eisenhower served two terms as president, during which the United States experienced the greatest prosperity in its history to that time. As president, Eisenhower ended the Korean War, grappled with anticommunism investigations, established NASA, defended school desegregation by protecting black students in Little Rock, Arkansas, and toured around the world to address Cold War issues. Read...

After eight years as vice president and a close loss in the election of 1960, Richard Nixon’s political career seemed to be over. He rebounded to win two terms as president, during which he arranged talks to end the Vietnam War, reestablished diplomatic relations with China, reformed welfare, and established the EPA. Despite his policy achievements, his presidency was undone by his role in covering up the Watergate scandal. Facing almost certain impeachment, Nixon resigned the presidency, ...