Books with title A Brief History of Israel

Israel is a modern country with a short history set into the lengthy story of Jewish history. A Brief History of Israel, Third Edition explores that history with an emphasis on the period since Israel's independence in 1948. It is a complex story of a people and their modern state, established thousands of years after the destruction of the old one. The story of the independent state of Israel is narrated against the backdrop of exile, anti-Semitism, Zionism, and the Holocaust--all of which have helped shape the nature of the current state. The chronological narration begins with the time of Abraham and the period of the Israelite kingdoms and continues to World War II and the United Nations Partition Plan. A Brief History of Israel, Third Edition explores the independent country of Israel, including the Arab-Israeli conflict, domestic politics, the economy, and international relations.

From the rise of the first civilizations of North America and continuing through the cataclysm of the Spanish conquest and the explosive revolution of Zapata and Pancho Villa to the intensely contested presidential election of 2006, Mexico has had a vibrant and dynamic history. This book gives expansive coverage to Mexico's pre-Columbian civilizations and contemporary indigenous people a century after the Spanish conquest. "A Brief History of Mexico, Updated Edition" brings readers up to date on developments in Mexico and helps them understand the deeper significance of recent events, including the 2006 presidential election that resulted in victory for the National Action Party's (PAN's) Felipe Calderon, a weakened Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), and the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) candidate threatening a government in opposition.Coverage includes: the challenge of revitalizing Mexico's people and resources in this new period of multiparty democracy; indigenous peoples, the environment, and culture; the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the increasing participation of Mexican Americans in Mexican politics and culture; and the testing of the new democratic institutions by the close results of the 2006 presidential election and months of protest claiming electoral fraud.

As recently as the turn of the century, Western images of India pictured it as a land of religion, luxury, and desperate poverty holy men sitting cross-legged by the roadside, fat maharajas on bejeweled elephants, or poverty-stricken beggars picking garbage for scraps to eat. Now that image has started to change. Today Americans are more likely to imagine Indian workers in call centers taking jobs needed in the United States or kids winning fortunes on quiz shows as in Slumdog Millionaire. Covering approximately 5,000 years of history, this revised resource offers an accessible, reliable introduction to the rich and diverse history of India.

The close geographical proximity of Great Britain has had a profound impact on Irish history. The interaction and confrontation between the two peoples and cultures culminated in 1801 with the absorption of Ireland into Great Britain. The Irish struggled to retain their separate ethnic identity - defined by a distinctive language and cultural traditions, and by the Roman Catholic religion - and ultimately, to win independence. Religious discord, social and political instability, and outbreaks of armed rebellion mark the historical record. The Irish managed to survive and, in the end, they succeeded in securing their cherished goal of national self-identity. A democratic and prosperous nation open to the world, Ireland today comprises a synthesis of both Irish and English heritages. Providing a broad narrative and relating the central events that have shaped the country, "A Brief History of Ireland" touches on all aspects of Ireland's history, including political, economic, cultural, social, and foreign affairs.Recounting this country's long history - from the arrival of the Celts to recent economic developments that have brought booming prosperity and social change - the volume notes what makes Ireland unique among nations, including noteworthy contributions made by the Irish.