The Oxford Encyclopedia of Brazilian History and Culture brings together specialists from around Latin America, Europe, and the United States in 115 long-form essays ranging from the nation's prehistory until the beginning of the 21st century. The collection features original research on the history and legacies of slavery, political history, international relations, economic history, social history, cultural history and more, with special attention paid to the arts and sciences. The encyclopedia is divided into four large chronological sections: the precolonial and long colonial periods, the short imperial period, and the republican period that continues to the present day. It also seeks to reinvent the historiographical tradition by securing the participation of historians from across generations whose contributions compare themes and models of interpretation that correspond to specific phases of historical research. Written in clear explanatory prose and incorporating the latest research, the encyclopedia's articles offer a marvelous narrative that will be of use to scholars, students, and the general reader.