The revolutions around the globe in the 19th century have had an enormous impact on the course of history. To help students better understand the major developments in the tumultuous 19th century and their impact on the 20th century, this unique resource offers detailed description and expert analysis of the 19th century's most important events: The Napoleonic Era, the Congress of Vienna and the Age of Metternich, the Latin American Wars of Independence, the Reform Bill of 1832, the Revolutions of 1848, the Emancipation of the Russian Serfs, the Meiji Restoration, the Unification of Germany, Marxism and the Rise of Socialism, and Imperialism. Each of the ten events is dealt with in a separate chapter. Designed for students, the unique format features an introductory essay that presents the facts, followed by an interpretive essay that places the event in a broader context and promotes student analysis.

The introductory essay provides factual material about the event in a clear, concise, chronological manner that makes complex history understandable. The interpretive essay, written by a recognized authority in the field in a style designed to appeal to a general readership, explores the short-term and far-reaching ramifications of the event. An annotated bibliography identifies the most important and recent scholarship about each event. A full-page photo of each event complements the narrative. This volume contains four useful appendices: a glossary of names, events, and terms; a timeline of important events in 19th-century world history; the comparative population of selected countries in the 19th century; and countries colonized during the Imperial Scramble of 1870-1914. This work is an ideal addition to the high school, community college, and undergraduate reference shelf, as well as excellent for supplementary reading in social studies and world history courses.