Provides comprehensive overviews of Indonesia's people, geography, history, government, economy, and culture. Abundant full colour illustrations guide the reader on a voyage of discovery. Maps reflect current political boundaries.

Southeast Asia, from Burma (Myanmar) in the west to the Philippines in the east, is a fragmented region of peninsulas, islands, and seas. The region is of growing economic, political, and cultural importance in the world.

The information-packed volumes in this series provide comprehensive overviews of each nation's people, geography, history, government, economy, and culture. Abundant full-color illustrations guide the reader on a voyage of discovery, and maps reflect current political boundaries. Written by the most experienced professors teaching world regional geography, this series meets social studies and geography curriculum standards.

Thailand is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. It is known as "the land of smiles," where the people extol a charm and grace that is unmatched. These elements serve to beckon visitors who want to explore this incredible land and its people. Thailand has developed its economy at a surprising pace in the last decades of the 20th century and the dawn of the 21st. Even with the Asian financial crisis, Thailand's economy has recovered and continues to step forward. And accompanying this economic surge has been the implementation of a new constitution. However, Thailand also faces...

Bangladesh, located in south-central Asia, is the most densely populated nation in the world. Known as Bengal prior to the British-led partition of India in 1947, Bangladesh fell under control of Pakistan. It was henceforth called East Pakistan until 1971, when it achieved independence, thanks largely to help from India. Bangladesh's landscape is dominated by the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers and often experiences massive floods during the monsoon season because most of the country is at or near sea level. "Bangladesh" offers a wealth of practical information for those seeking to learn more...

Portugal is located on the west coast of the Iberian Peninsula and shares its border with Spain. Much like Spain, Portugal was a powerful seafaring nation in the 15th and 16th centuries and established several overseas colonies, including Brazil. Today, Portugal has an industrialized economy, made up primarily of light industry, and is a member of the European Union. A full-color overview of a fascinating nation, "Portugal" is an accessible guide to students who want to learn more about this country's culture, geography, and economy.

A difficult environment with a harsh Arctic climate has made life for the Finns extremely challenging. But they have overcome more than just their environment. Religious divisions that developed between the Catholic and Orthodox churches also divided the country during the Great Schism. Later, the country was a battleground for fighting between the historical powers of Sweden and Russia. Today, Finland is a communications titan, and the country is no longer situated on the fringes of human activity. The use of technology has helped the Finns move to a point of virtual centrality in the...

Introduces middle school readers to the issues that affect the global society. Combining geography, history, science, social studies, and economics, this title examines the topics and their importance to the United States and to the world. It shows how the policies and actions of a particular group or region affect others.

Despite the heinous atrocities committed during the 20th century by Hitler, Pol Pot, Stalin, and other virulent dictators, human rights policies have also moved forward at a pace previously unknown in earlier times. This title provides a path for understanding these complex events and the issues facing us today as citizens.