In the 1950s and 1960s and on into the 1970s, the United States was involved in two wars fought far from home—one in aid of South Korea against the neighboring Communist North Korea, and a second waged through the jungles of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. Both of these military engagements were a reaction to what the United States feared as being Communist takeovers, and were surrounded by a strong degree of political controversy. This book explores both wars in detail to help readers unders...

As the world’s resources continue to suffer from overuse and the effects of human activity, understanding the causes and effects of pollution is critical to preserving the land, water, and air that are vital to all life. This insightful volume explores the root causes of pollution, as well as the local and global responses and constantly emerging technologies that allow governments and ordinary citizens to cope with an increasingly toxic environment and landscape.

In an age where near-instantaneous communication is available through all manners of portable and pocket-sized devices, it is easy to overlook the genesis of telecommunication instrumentation—the telephone. Since Alexander Graham Bell patented the first phone in the 1800s, the telephone has undergone numerous changes to its look and functionality. This detailed volume examines the development of the telephone and related technologies, including everything from the transistor to fax machine...

The technological phenomenon known as the Internet has revolutionized the way people work, play, consume, socialize—essentially the way humans interact in general. Along with unparalleled access to information and such cultural juggernauts as Facebook and YouTube, this technology also has given rise to cybercrime, malware, and a host of other issues as well. This comprehensive volume examines the beginnings of the Internet, the development of the various content and services within cybersp...

Long before they took to the sea and air, warring factions engaged in land-based conflicts that involved close-range combat with rudimentary defenses and weapons. As civilizations have advanced, so too have their military strategies, tactics, and weaponry. Eventually this led to the development of sophisticated land fortifications, arms, artillery, and missile systems in use today by ground troops. This insightful volume examines the evolution of warfare on land around the world, as well a...

Accounting for more than 90 percent of the world’s energy supply, fossil fuels—coal, petroleum, and natural gas—are not an infinite resource. Formed by the lengthy decomposition of organic matter, fossil fuels are actually limited in availability. Still, nations across the globe are dependent upon the processing and utilization of these dwindling resources. Complete with maps and detailed diagrams, this volume examines the production and distribution of fossil fuels and their viability as ...

Traversing landscapes and expediting travel, railroads have allowed us to conquer once elusive frontiers to improve both transportation and commerce. Railroad design has changed remarkably little in the years since the invention of the steam engine, yet trains remain a prevalent form of transport and the railways. The bridges that have been developed to support them continue to be a vital part of infrastructures in countries around the world. This engaging volume examines the evolution of ...

Although conflict was once restricted to land, the introduction of warships and planes eventually expanded the theater of war to include both water and sky. New combat strategies emerged with these changing technologies and dramatically impacted such events as the First World War. This comprehensive volume examines the various crafts that have shifted the front lines of war to previously unimagined heights and depths and the tactics that have accompanied these developments.

With growing populations across the world consuming Earth’s limited oil and natural gas reserves, the environmental and economic toll of energy dependence becomes an increasingly global concern. The development of renewable forms of energy—solar, wind, water, and geothermal, to name a few—offers alternatives to fossil fuels. Consumers are embracing these new modes of energy delivery and use. This extensive volume examines the possibility of a cleaner and more energy efficient future by det...

The ingenuity evidenced during the Renaissance was not just limited to the fine arts. A number of scientists and inventors also made astonishing breakthroughs in astronomy, medicine, physics, and more. Readers examine the scientific revolution, profiling Isaac Newton, Nicolaus Copernicus, Galileo, and many other great thinkers who transformed the scientific and mechanical worlds.

The allure of far-off lands, the promise of untapped resources, and a hunger for building global empires prompted Renaissance explorers to journey into the unknown. Battling harsh seafaring conditions, disease, and any number of unknown threats to their health and safety, the individuals profiled in this volume shaped the world map, setting the stage for future voyagers along the way.

War, while often gruesome and devastating, can also be viewed as a science or art, involving the translation of theory into practice. Even as weapons grow in sophistication over time, war has always involved careful calculations and balancing the interests of the involved party with effective combat techniques against an enemy. This absorbing volume examines the evolution of the strategies, tactics, and logistics employed in various wars and conflicts, from ancient times to the present-day...