Britannica Educational Publishing imprint: 818 books

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand is often cited as the event that triggered World War I, the massive global conflict that ensued shortly after his death. However, the First World War is more accurately described as a culmination of political tension that had been building across various...

Lingering resentments from the First World War, economic unease, and the sweeping racist agenda of Germany’s Nazi Party are just some of the many factors that shaped the trajectory of the Second World War. This far-reaching volume examines the major battles, events, and agreements of World War II,...

The postCold War era began with a decade of conflicts often mediated by the United States as the worldﾒs only remaining superpower. The September 11 terrorist attacks, however, marked the dawning of a new era. The United States became preoccupied by the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, while around the...

This authoritative volume examines the two main faiths, Confucianism and Daoism, that developed before China had meaningful contact with the rest of the world. Aspects of Buddhism later joined features of these faiths to form elements of Chinese ideology and, with the beliefs in immortals and the...

The story of socialism and communism is a saga of idealism and cynicism, revolution and repression, power and powerlessness. The entire political and economic history of the modern era is contained in this account, forming a detailed and lively panorama. The world is still grappling with age-old questions...

While the British became the dominant colonial power in South Asia, the Dutch, Portuguese, and French also initially vied for control of the region. This volume traces the rise of European influence in South Asia with an in-depth discussion of the path to colonialism and various facets of colonial rule....

Much of East Asia and Southeast Asia were unaffected by colonialism until the 19th century, when European nations, the United States, and Japan spread their influence and control throughout the continent of Asia. This resource traces the impact of foreign rule on the region, gaining insight into the...

Throughout the Middle Ages, various empires reigned across Europe and Asia; a closer look at these empires proves their enduring impact on the world. The Byzantine Empire lasted for more than one thousand years and was one of the world's leading civilizations until its decline in the eleventh century...

While the reality of intelligence gathering isn’t always as thrilling as popular spy novels and films make it seem, modern intelligence gathering operations are ample and a crucial part of diplomacy and military operations. This in-depth guide covers the nature and intriguing history of intelligence...

The Middle Ages were marked by economic and territorial expansion, demographic and urban growth, the emergence of national identity, and the restructuring of secular and ecclesiastical institutions. Readers will learn about the great achievements of the ninth through twelfth centuries, a time when people...

A bit of a misnomer, the Holy Roman Empire was never centralized enough to form a cohesive government, language, or system of law, but its political and religious authority reigned over parts of Europe for over a thousand years. Beginning with the papal crowning of Charlemagne in 800 A.D., its transition...

Amidst growing concerns about radical religious terrorism and general misinformation about the Islamic faith, this authoritative, academic guide reveals the rich historical development and core theological teachings of the world’s second-largest religion. By covering Islam's philosophical development...

Beginning in the twelfth century, the migration of various Turkic peoples over a four-century period greatly influenced the political and cultural organization of the Islamic world. This title assesses various factors—including the Mongol incursions and the Crusades—during the period of expansion...

Earth science is an umbrella term for a series of interlocking, dynamic scientific areas of study that aim to explain how the planet Earth works as a system. Combining studies of all the elements around us and how they interact, this book provides a history of this complex field, while highlighting core...