Across the timeline of human history, transportation has played a role in the migration of people and information, nation-building, economic development, environmental alteration, access to and the use of resources, and even the fall of civilizations. This single-volume reference presents more than 150 entries that describe the most up-to-date surface transport technologies and routes in use on every continent, including a broad range of road vehicles, railroads, person-powered vehicles, and even animals used for transportation.

The book melds transportation geography with culture,...