With a history of over three and a half millennia, and over 800 million adherents, Hinduism is one of the world's largest and most diverse religious traditions. This book presents the Hindu religious tradition's major events, individuals, texts, sects, and concepts in the context of its historical development through various periods. In addition, sacred Hindu pilgrimage sites, the rituals performed as religious practices, the manifestations of Hindu religious sensibilities in biography, art, the caste system of social organization, mythology, and the theories of salvation developed through...

With more than a billion faithful, Catholicism is the world's premier religion. It is yet more significant as its impact reaches around the world. However, like most religions, it is not always easy to fathom, not even for initiates. This book is a fine summary of the beliefs, rites, events, movements, memorable popes, saints, and other key persons in Catholic history. A lively introduction summarizes Church history from the time of Christ, through the various schismatic movements, to present- day Catholicism in the U.S. The A to Z entries also focus on theology and doctrine, providing...

The Korean War is often regarded as the "forgotten war," however, considering its historical significance it should be anything but. It was the first pitched battle between the communist forces and a coalition of the United Nations. While it was not the last such war in Asia, it did stem the tide in East Asia and permitted South Korea to prosper while North Korea decayed. This guide is prepared with the student and interested lay reader in mind. Its purpose is to provide an overview of the Korean War through: - a timeline of events - an introduction that explains the place, its history, and...

This highly praised book captures the essence and the madness of the "balance of terror" that was the Cold War. Describing an extensive period and much of the globe, The A to Z of the Cold War presents a year-by-year chronology, an introductory essay, and hundreds of entries on civilian and military leaders, central issues and peripheral conflicts, crucial countries and their allies or foes, the contending alliances and the non-aligned, deterrence and detente, the increasingly lethal weapons systems, and the various political and military strategies. While both authors are specialists in...

Few periods have given civilization such a strong impulse as the Renaissance, which started in Italy and then spread to the rest of Europe.

For quick reference to the significant authors, publications, awards, and events in the field of speculative fiction turn to this handy A to Z guide.

Contrary to many assessments that immediately followed the end of the 1991 Persian Gulf War, that war was neither short nor decisive. The 1991 conflict was the dramatic manifestation of long-standing antagonisms among the principal participants, and its results continue to have a profound effect on the region, a fact that can be seen most clearly in the current U.S.-occupation of Iraq. It is therefore important to determine, on the diplomatic side, just how the war got started, how it was fought, and whether the dramatic ground campaign should have exceeded the mere hundred hours it lasted in...

Taoism, the set of philosophical teachings and religious practices rooted in the understanding of the Chinese character Tao, or "The Way," was founded by the Chinese philosopher Laozi in the 6th Century BCE, whose work, the Tao Te Ching (The Book of the Way and its Virtue) laid the philosophical foundation for the religion's beliefs. This volume starts, as it should, with a detailed chronology of Taoism and its relationship both to China and other teachings.

Byzantium was one of the greatest empires that ever existed. It reigned over extensive regions around the Mediterranean and in Eastern Europe from its founding by Constantine in 324 to the fall of Constantinople in 1453. During this period, its emperors had not only secular powers but also religious, dominating the Orthodox church that spread into Slavic lands. However, internal divisions, rivalry with the West, and the relentless battle against invaders, including the Ottomans, would eventually weaken the Byzantine Empire, and although it disappeared half a millennia ago, its influences can...

The French Revolution remains the most examined event and period in world history. Most historians would argue that it was the first "modern" revolution, an event so momentous that it changed the very meaning of the word revolution to its current connotation of a political and/or social upheaval that marks a decisive break with the past, moving the society in a forward or progressive direction. No revolution has occurred since 1789 without making reference to this first revolution, and most have been measured against it. When revolution shook the foundations of the Old Regime in France, shock...