The appalling Cambodian genocide remains barely studied even to this day. Yet nearly two million Cambodians (around 20 percent of Cambodia’s population) died between 1975 and 1979 as a result of the dictator Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge Communist government. Innocent Cambodians were murdered, starved, and tortured. This fascinating book offers an overview of this tiny Asian country’s history, framing the events that led up to this tragic genocide. Readers will learn about the key players in...

Cleopatra is renowned as one of the most famous female leaders in all of history, but often her importance as the Macedonian dynasty’s last queen is obscured by her reputation for a lavish life and her tumultuous, high-profile romances with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. Countless books, movies, plays, and operas have highlighted the drama and downplayed her keen political acumen and dedication to increasing Egypt’s power. Cleopatra, who began ruling Egypt when she was only eighteen years ...

Marcus Tullius Cicero, who lived from 106 BCE to 43 BCE, was a man who wore many hats: Roman statesman, lawyer, scholar, and writer. He became the greatest orator in Rome’s history and penned countless books and letters throughout his life, including speeches, lectures, and philosophical and political pieces. He was also a poet, although little of his verse exists today. But Cicero’s life was far from the quiet, docile existence of a writer who kept to himself. His speeches often raised th...

In Rwanda, a small but populous country in Africa, a ghastly genocide started on April 6, 1994. Although it lasted only one hundred days, almost a million people were slaughtered by its end. This illuminating resource reviews one of the most horrible genocides in history, explaining the definition of genocide itself. Readers will learn about Rwanda's history, with a focus on the events that led to those terrible days. The book is rounded out with a brief look at post-genocide Rwanda, as th...

Reproductive health and their accompanying rights affect each and every woman. This crucial resource provides information to help women make informed, educated decisions. Readers will learn about navigating the often-murky waters of making choices about sex and their sexual health, as well as the additional choices they may face if they wish to forge ahead into motherhood, put a child up for adoption, or opt to terminate a pregnancy. as well as the physical and emotional ramifications of e...

Relationships are so common that it is easy to take them for granted, but successful relationships take some amount of work to keep them healthy and happy for both parties. Readers will learn what it takes to keep relationships going strong, as well as how to handle toxic or stressful relationships, long-distance relationships, family relationships, romances, and more. This edifying text also highlights important qualities to look for in any relationship and how to handle the struggle when...

Despite making up 47 percent of the US workforce, women still face tremendous challenges in nearly every place of employment. This insightful resource highlights some of these challenges, such as lower pay, fewer promotions, and sexual harassment, that women have faced in the past and present. Readers will also learn about the steps taken throughout history for and by working women. Clear explanations illuminate the laws that have been passed for their support and protection, pointing the ...

As the last descendant of the history-changing Julius Caesar, Nero more than made a name for himself. But his rule of ancient Rome, which lasted from 54 to 68 CE, is a story that is not so straightforward. His shocking and outright brutal behavior certainly stands out, whether it was the murder of his mother, his enjoyment of performance art at a time when such public performances were highly unusual, or his general disregard for his role as ruler when it came to running his government. Bu...

The feminist movement encourages equal rights, self-respect, and self-confidence for women of all classes and races everywhere in the world; so, theoretically, females everywhere should be coming into their own at last. Yet the media and internet portray females in a different light. This resource highlights the propaganda and stereotypes faced by girls almost as soon as they are born. Readers will learn how girls’ toys, music, and more can influence their image of women. More importantly,...

Domestic violence, or intimate partner violence, is an epic issue that is defined as a pattern of abusive behavior between people who are familiar, including family members, husbands, boyfriends, children, or caregivers. In a domestic violence situation, one partner procures power and control over the other through force. Readers will find a concise explanation of what constitutes domestic violence, so they can better recognize it when they see or experience it. This crucial resource also ...

Nazi Germany’s Holocaust has become something of a benchmark for all other genocides. This instructive volume offers readers insight into the background of its mastermind, Adolf Hitler, and sets the stage for the appalling fates of so many minorities, including Jews, Catholics, Gypsies, homosexuals, and other allegedly “inferior” groups of people in Germany, who were tortured, held captive, and slaughtered. Readers will also learn about their lives before the terrors began and the curious ...

The concept of democracy is far from new, but this comprehensive volume addresses some of the volatile questions that continue to puzzle even the best of us. Readers will get a survey of the development of this form of government, dating back to its invention in ancient Athens and continuing to the present, following its development with the changing times. Thoughtful questions provoke discussion about its pros and cons, its strengths and weaknesses, and how, even after all these years, th...