Books published by publisher ABC-CLIO

Exploring the history of ethnic, regional, and religious diversity in Nigeria, this volume traces most of the country's current problems to its colonial exploitation.Plagued by ethnic divisions, economic inequality, and corruption, Nigeria appears to conform to the stereotypical view that Africa's problems are mostly the result of primitive tribalism. But as Nigeria's Diverse Peoples demonstrates, most of Nigeria's problems today were set in motion by Europeans during the slave trade and colonial eras.Focusing on three main ethnic groups (Hausa-Falani, Yoruba, and Igbo) and ranging from precolonial times to independence in 1960 to the present, this breakthrough study portrays a Nigeria now striving to make a unified nation of itself. Offering a fresh understanding not just of Nigeria but of Africa as well, readers will enter the richly complex world of Nigeria's ethnic history.• Includes sections at the end of each chapter that highlight key people and events, with background information on past and present ethnic, regional, religious, and political affairs• Primary documents, including those from the Biafra civil war, give students and general readers a better understanding of the reality of Nigeria, and photographs and maps illustrate the development, dynamics, and impact of Nigerian diversity

Two leading sports authorities explore the culture of soccer around the world, considering the sport as a means to better understand a society's past, present, and future. * Includes both men's and women's soccer * Features lists of winners of World Cups, regional confederations cups, and Olympic Games * Provides sidebars of interesting facts and photos to supplement the text * Offers a multi-disciplinary perspective from across geography, social studies, world cultures, and anthropology

An examination of the historical experience of African Americans as a case study of America's legacy of racial violence.In this comprehensive overview of how the law has been used to combat racism, author Christopher Waldrep points out that the U.S. government has often promoted discrimination. A veritable history of civil rights, the story is told primarily through a discussion of key legal cases.Racial Violence on Trial also presents 11 key documents gathered together for the first time, from the Supreme court's opinion in Brown v. Mississippi to a 1941 newspaper account entitled The South Kills Another Negro, to a 1947 New Yorker piece, Opera in Greenville, about a crowd of taxi drivers who killed a black man. Also included are a listing of key people, laws, and concepts; a chronology; a table of cases; and an annotated bibliography.• Four narrative chapters examine the history of black–white relations since America was founded• A–Z entries cover important people, laws, events, and concepts and a special documents section includes court decisions, magazine stories, and personal accounts

This unusual encyclopedia brings together in-depth information on more than 450 natural geographic features from around the world and offers an array of creative tools to promote critical thinking and classroom discussion.With Earth undergoing rapid environmental change, students and the general public alike should be knowledgeable about the world's geographic features. This authoritative, two-volume reference enables readers do just that. It describes continents and oceans; individual mountains, islands, caves, and rivers; and ecological entities such as wildlife refuges and national parks. Each entry provides a geographic overview of the feature's significance, location, description, geologic history, biota, protected areas, and environmental issues. But the coverage goes even deeper so that entries also discuss the cultural importance of each natural place, covering everything from indigenous beliefs to traditional folklore to contemporary legends.The encyclopedia stands apart from other works not only in the depth of its coverage but also in its range. It discusses lesser known as well as prominent geographical features and offers critical thinking aids that will help students see how the natural world relates to their daily lives. Teaching and learning tools include an appendix called "Opposing Viewpoints" that allows students to understand landforms involved in current conflicts and disputes as well as an "Activities/Discussion Questions" appendix.• Provides a one-stop reference for students of geography and environmental and earth sciences• Offers global coverage of diverse features, whether terrestrial, aquatic, geological, ecological, or physiographic • Includes an overview of the various kinds of landforms of the world, how they are formed, and how they continue to change over time• Explains each feature's origins and significance, as well as major environmental issues in which it's involved• Indicates the importance of features to the development of Western science and contemporary scientific thought in fields such as evolutionary biology, paleontology, plate tectonics, and climate change• Features a "Top 10s Appendix" to provoke student interest through statistics such as the tallest mountains, largest lakes, and longest rivers

A highly readable overview of the rich past of historically black colleges and universities, and how their role in higher education is evolving for the future.Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have influenced African American lives and communities since 1837. Historically Black Colleges and Universities provides a past and present look at their role in higher education.This volume addresses why these institutions exist, how effective they've been, and if today's 103 HBCUs are still necessary. Special attention is given to the years since 1954 and to desegregation cases such as Brown v. Board of Education, United States v. Fordice, and other judicial decisions. The volume highlights government relations, leadership, and philanthropy as they apply to HBCUs. Also, a chapter provides a case study of the Historically Minority Universities Bioscience and Biotechnology Program Initiative, and a final chapter suggests research agendas for the 21st century.• Six narrative chapters covering the history, purpose, and legacy of these institutions and how they relate to the government and the international community• Directory of national organizations, associations, and federal agencies associated with and proponents of historically black colleges and universities

This work is an award winning compendium of authors, concepts, motifs, characters, themes, works, and movements associated with folklore and literature from around the world.Long before the written word existed, humans expressed themselves by telling stories. Handed down through centuries, these stories were woven into the tapestry of everyday life. For close to three centuries, folklore has inspired adaptations to film, operas, ballets, short stories, novels, and poetry. Its no surprise, then, that many folklore scholars consider folklore as original literature―existing before written literature. Most folklorists seem to share the belief that folklore, whether drawn from oral observation or from the written record, is a rich cultural resource that is readily available to creative writers and other artists.The Encyclopedia of Folklore and Literature introduces readers to a selection of authors, characters, themes, works, and movements associated with folklore and literature from around the world. This authoritative work also includes cross-references, an informative introduction, a bibliography, and an index. Students, librarians, and folklore and literary scholars and researchers will welcome this encyclopedia as an essential addition to any reference collection.Provides an informatiove introductionIncludes extensive cross references and a bibliography

This highly detailed and well-illustrated single-volume work documents the evolution of warfare across history through weaponry and technological change.In war, the weapons and technologies employed have direct effects on how battles are waged. When new weapons are introduced, they can dramatically alter the outcomes of warfare—and consequently change the course of history itself. This reference work provides a fascinating overview of the major weapon systems and military technologies that have had a major impact on world history. Addressing weapons as crude as the club used by primitive man to the high-tech weapons of today such as unmanned drones, Instruments of War: Weapons and Technologies That Have Changed History offers nearly 270 profusely illustrated entries that examine the key roles played by specific weapons and identify their success and failures. The book begins with an introductory essay that frames the subject matter of the work and discusses the history of weapons as a whole. The text is concise and accessible to general readers without extensive backgrounds in military history yet provides the detailed information necessary to convey the complexity of the evolution of warfare through technological change.• Contains more than 260 entries of weapons and technological changes• Features 25 sidebars that provide interesting insights as to the employment of the weapons and changes• Appropriate for students in high school, college, and military academies as well as general readers interested in the history of weaponry• Provides a bibliography and index

This highly detailed and well-illustrated single-volume work documents the evolution of warfare across history through weaponry and technological change.In war, the weapons and technologies employed have direct effects on how battles are waged. When new weapons are introduced, they can dramatically alter the outcomes of warfare―and consequently change the course of history itself. This reference work provides a fascinating overview of the major weapon systems and military technologies that have had a major impact on world history. Addressing weapons as crude as the club used by primitive man to the high-tech weapons of today such as unmanned drones, Instruments of War: Weapons and Technologies That Have Changed History offers nearly 270 profusely illustrated entries that examine the key roles played by specific weapons and identify their success and failures. The book begins with an introductory essay that frames the subject matter of the work and discusses the history of weapons as a whole. The text is concise and accessible to general readers without extensive backgrounds in military history yet provides the detailed information necessary to convey the complexity of the evolution of warfare through technological change.• Contains more than 260 entries of weapons and technological changes• Features 25 sidebars that provide interesting insights as to the employment of the weapons and changes• Appropriate for students in high school, college, and military academies as well as general readers interested in the history of weaponry• Provides a bibliography and index

Two leading sports authorities explore the culture of soccer around the world, considering the sport as a means to better understand a society's past, present, and future. How popular is soccer worldwide? Here's one indicator: 3.2 billion people—nearly half of the planet's population—tuned in to watch the 2010 World Cup on television. Soccer matches attract a gargantuan number of fans from around the globe due to the popularity of the sport itself but also because of the nationalism it inspires and the entertainment spectacle of the big games. Distinguished authors and sports authorities, Charles Parrish and John Nauright, examine how soccer impacts societies worldwide by shaping national identities, providing common ground for diplomatic issues, and forging economic and social development.This one-volume geographic guide studies the places in which soccer has a major impact, examining each region's teams, major tournaments, key players, and international performance. The authors organize the book geographically by region and country, with entries reviewing the history of the sport and cultural impact on the area. Each profile concludes with fascinating game-based statistics, such as winners of major tournaments and top goal scorers. The book covers 20 countries including England, Brazil, Egypt, the United States, Cameroon, and Korea. • Includes both men's and women's soccer• Features lists of winners of World Cups, regional confederations cups, and Olympic Games • Provides sidebars of interesting facts and photos to supplement the text• Offers a multi-disciplinary perspective from across geography, social studies, world cultures, and anthropology

An exploration of the U.S. Supreme Court during an era of dramatic sectionalism, slavery, and the Civil War.The Taney Court: Justices, Rulings, and Legacy presents an in-depth analysis of the decisions and impact of the U.S. Supreme Court during the three-decade tenure of Roger B. Taney, one of the most important chief justices in U.S. history. A careful analysis of landmark decisions such as Dred Scott v. Sandford, Charles River Bridge v. Warren Bridge, and Prigg v. Pennsylvania shows how the court interpreted issues of commerce, contracts, slavery, and separation of powers, and how, despite its perception as being pro-states rights, it actually expanded federal judicial power. Profiles of the 20 justices who served on the Taney Court place a special emphasis on those who made the most significant impact, including Taney, Joseph Story, Benjamin Curtis, and John A. Campbell.• Includes a survey of the historical period that describes the major political, social, and economic developments of the middle decades of the 19th century such as the fierce competition between the Democratic and Whig parties, the rapid economic growth of the nation, and the Civil War• Offers an examination of the decisions reached in the Court's most important cases on the interpretation of the clauses of the Constitution relating to commerce, contract, and slavery

In a compilation of essays, Early Republic: People and Perspectives explores the varied experiences of many different groups of Americans across racial, gender, religious, and regional lines in the early years of the country.Written by expert contributors drawing on extensive new research, Early Republic: People and Perspectives ranges across the broad spectrum of society to explore the everyday lives of Americans from the birth of the nation to the beginning of Jacksonian Age (roughly 1830).In a series of chapters, Early Republic provides vivid portraits of the farmers, entrepreneurs, laborers, women, Native Americans, and slaves who made up the population of the United States in its infancy. Key events, such as the two-party political system, the Louisiana Purchase, the War of 1812, and the expansion into the Ohio Valley, are seen through the eyes of the ordinary citizens who helped make them happen, in turn, making the United States what it is today.• Primary sources give readers an opportunity to hear the real voices of the people of the United States in its formative decades• A bibliography provides an exhaustive list of relevant social history works over the past 40 years

An expert guide to the development of the middle school model as the best educational environment designed to address students' developmental and social needs as well as educational needs.Middle Grades Education: A Reference Handbook explores the distinctive middle school approach to helping adolescents develop as human beings and citizens as well as students, with coverage that ranges from the conceptual foundations of the middle school model, to research-based best practices, to sample lesson plans and activities.Edited by Pat Williams-Boyd, with contributions from experienced, frontline educators, the book showcases a number of places where the ideal middle school has become reality, where individual talents are nurtured, families are involved, teachers serve as role models and advocates, and crucial health and developmental needs are met. Readers will experience classrooms where students dance their math, sing their science, and breathe the winds of history, and where the joy of learning is bounded only by the educator's imagination.• Learning activities for all instructional strategies including differentiated instruction, inquiry-based and concept-based education, critical thinking and problem-solving strategies, the use of multiple intelligences, learning styles and cultural congruence, and cooperative learning• Planning guides and step-by-step presentations of academic service-learning, which connects the classroom to the community