Historical Dictionaries of Ancient Civilizations and Historical Eras
There is a lot to like about Scarecrow's various Historical Dictionaries series. The books are written by experts in the area or country that is covered. All contain well-written brief histories of the country and chronologies that, though they cover historical time periods, heavily feature more recent events. Brief A-Z entries cover the main people, politics, social issues, foreign affairs, institutions, and policies that make the country unique. Extensive bibliographies are divided into several general subject areas. -Booklist Stretching from the very earliest ages to more recent eras, the scope of this series covers the vast sweep of human history. It starts with some of the great ancient civilizations, like those of Egypt, Phoenecia and Mesopotamia, includes more recent empires like the Mughal, Mongol and Napoleonic ones, but also the Renaissance and Enlightenment, and not only Western history but also Medieval China (and the Cultural Revolution), India, Mesoamerica and North America. Like the other historical dictionaries, these start with a chronology and general introduction, providing the big picture, before moving on to significant details in hundreds of -dictionary+ entries on more specific topics. These may be outstanding figures, whether thinkers or doers, philosophers, theoreticians, politicians, generals or dictators and conquerors. There are also entries on the state institutions, programs and principles, achievements and failures, victories and defeats. Alongside the political material, there is information on the economy, society and culture. This is topped off with a substantial bibliography pointing to further reading. These can be read on their own but, in many cases, it would be helpful to refer to other similar volumes on specific countries within the series of historical dictionaries on Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Oceania, Europe, and Latin America.

Editor(s): Jon Woronoff