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For as long as individuals have lived alongside one another there have been governing structures--bodies established to maintain order and justice, entrusted to provide basic needs and services to their constituents. Disparate beliefs and interests have given rise to many forms of government throughout history, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. This engaging volume allows readers to examine the various forms of government that have developed around the world, with a special focus on the ascension of democracy.

The music of the 1960s is perhaps as memorable as the historical milestones of the era. Timeless bands, such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, emerged from England while the U.S. saw the rise of such folk musicians as Bob Dylan and the explosion of soul, with such legends as Aretha Franklin and James Brown providing the soundtrack to the fight for civil rights. Accessible text captures the extraordinary sounds of this unforgettable period through profiles of its greatest musical talents, placing their stories in social and cultural context.

As skilled at architecture and inventing as he was at politics, Thomas Jefferson was a man of many talents who was invaluable to the founding of the United States. After loaning his expertise to writing the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson went on to serve as the third U.S. president, nearly doubling the size of the United States during his term. Jefferson?s extraordinary life and accomplishments are recounted in this engaging volume.

Life on Earth can be viewed as a complex network of interactions between living organisms and their respective environments. By parsing the natural world into various ecosystems and biomes, the extent and significance of such interaction among species and between organisms and their natural habitats becomes abundantly clear. The study of ecology forms the heart of this engaging volume, which explores the formation of ecological communities and examines the biological diversity that forms the backbone of life on the planet.

Although industrialization and modernization have dramatically improved the quality of our lives, they have also largely contributed to the destruction of our natural resources by engendering waste and creating depletion through overuse. As the world's population continues to grow and consume, litter, chemicals, and a host of other harmful products overrun our land, air, and water. This intriguing volume examines the various pollutants and human activities that threaten the natural world, with a special look at deforestation and desertification.

Perhaps the most prominent elements in the patchwork pattern formed by Earth's regions and ecosystems are its deserts, grasslands, and rainforests. Though vastly different from one another and often separated by thousands of miles, these biomes are all life-sustaining components of a larger environmental network. This volume examines each of these captivating regions in turn as well as the various species that thrive within them. Vivid images provide colorful glimpses of the vistas and organisms that comprise each biome.

Global warming, often a source of much politicization and debate, has recast international dialogue with respect to environmental responsibility and activism. While it is generally agreed that global warming can be attributed to human activity, solutions to this phenomenon are unclear and vary with each country. This thought-provoking volume examines the science behind the greenhouse effect, identifies the human role in and response to climate change, and explores the various effects of this worldwide phenomenon.

Earth's biosphere supports several unique biomes and ecosystems. Though they operate as self-contained units, these regions also operate as part of a global network, nurturing interdependence among greatly diverse plant and animal species. The evolution of these wondrous realms--both aquatic and terrestrial--and the various natural elements that distinguish them from one another are the subjects of this comprehensive volume.

Many modern-day readers would consider Christians a peaceful people, but their history is steeped in war and bloodshed. This book focuses on a series of military campaigns known as the Crusades, during which Christian warriors attempted to regain the Holy Land (Palestine) from Muslim rule. This inclusive text begins with the origins of these campaigns, with reference to the Selijuq Turks' defeat of the Byzantine armies and Pope Urban II's Council at Clermont, and leads readers through seven well-known crusades to their decline and ultimate failure. It also contains an in-depth look at three special orders of knighthood: the Knights Hospitallers, the Knights Templars, and the Teutonic Knights

For approximately six hundred years after the death of Muhammad, the founder of Islam, the Muslim community formed a cohesive state called the Caliphate. This book follows the four distinct Caliphates (Rightly Guided, Umayyad, 'Abbasid, and Fatimid) through their periods of leadership, to the state's prolonged downfall at the hands of the Seljuqs and the Crusaders, and its ultimate defeat by the Ottoman Empire. This text includes a focus on contributions made to the arts, literature, medicine, astronomy, science and mathematics, among other disciplines, particularly during the golden age of the Caliphate spanning the eighth and ninth centuries

Climate change is a hot topic, but few readers understand exactly how it has disrupted Earth's natural cycles. This text offers a straightforward explanation of the carbon cycle, including what carbon is, the places where it is found, and how it is exchanged. In addition, readers will gain insight into how human activity affects the carbon cycle in nature. Each chapter features charts or photographic illustrations to enhance comprehension, as well as vocabulary boxes and open-ended questions that invite readers to think critically about the topic

From tiny organisms to plants and people, all living things need nitrogen. This engaging STEM resource introduces elementary school readers to the importance of the nitrogen cycle in clear, easy-to-follow text. Readers will learn why nitrogen is an essential nutrient for growth, where nitrogen is found, the important role legumes play in the nitrogen cycle, and more. Colorful illustrations and photographs add interest and additional information to each page. Compare and Contrast, Vocabulary, and Think About It sidebars support Common Core standards. This is a must-have book for any shelf

Gaining momentum in the early decades of the 20th century, a number of fascist and other authoritarian regimes could be found around the world by the 1950s. Many persist into the present day. Often led by oppressive dictators, these regimes share many characteristics, though each differ in various ways as well. This volume examines the historical trajectory of dictatorship, fascism, and totalitarianism; their characteristics; where they intersected and how they differed; and some of the individuals-including Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, among many others-infamous for violently imposing t

Capitalism is first and foremost an economic system that prizes free and competitive markets, private ownership, and a comparatively small role for government intervention and regulation. Yet capitalism also has many political undertones and has become associated with notions of freedom, individualism, self-determination, and anti-unionism. As a political and economic philosophy, it was a major player in the Cold War, squaring off against communism and seemingly triumphing. The colorful history of this economic system that doubles as a political philosophy is recounted here, from Medieval-era

Anthropology, politics, and history come together to form an insightful blend in this authoritative title covering kinship, tribalism, and nonurban cultures the world over. Both the theory and practical examples of tribal cultures are presented, with several chapters dedicated to the various schools of anthropological thought on nonurban societies, accompanied by a survey of tribal and indigenous cultures both historically and in modern times. American Indians, the indigenous peoples of South America, nomadic tribes of the Middle East, and Aboriginal Australians are a few of the societies expl