The Hutchinson Illustrated Encyclopedia of British History is a comprehensive and authoritative guide to the people, events, and ideas that have shaped Britain from prehistory to the present day. The editors have also sought to convey the truth that history is more than simply a compilation of facts from the past. The editors have included as much factual information as possible in each A-Z entry, and numerous tables and statistics are included, as well as many specially-created maps and plans. The chronological relationships of past events and lives are conveyed through various detailed subject chronologies (attached to the relevant A-Z entries). A large thematic chronology, following the A-Z text, provides a visual reference to the relationship between the events of British/Irish history and events elsewhere in the world. And the cultural context of as many entries as possible has been brought to life via a wide range of illustrations, which provide a wealth of visual detail and, often, a key to past conceptions. Interspersed in the text are 21 specially commissioned, extended feature articles from noted historians that provide the analysis and the sense of the broad sweep of history that would otherwise be impossible to convey in an A-Z reference book.

Throughout history, humans have sought ways not only to acquire but to preserve knowledge. From when to plant crops to who begat whom, even the earliest people worked to gather and store information. Today, computers and other technologies have almost completely changed the world of information access and storage. This history traces the development of knowledge-collecting from early humans, whose minds served as repositories of culture and lore, through the first libraries and encyclopedias, to the many advances of the twentieth century. Ironically it is with these latest advances that the preservation of knowledge has foundered. For example, CD-ROMs can last no doubt for decades--but the software programs that run them will not, because they are constantly being upgraded. Both well-known and obscure pieces of the information story are explored in this work. From Diderot's encyclopedia, to anonymous librarians of the ancient world, the people who created information storage systems and the systems themselves are all presented. Fully indexed.

At the center of Christianity is Jesus of Nazareth--whose maleness is used by many to justify the subordination of women and to emphasize that men, rather than women, better represent Jesus. This raises a number of questions that are the subject of this book. What is the significance of Jesus' maleness? Does it reveal the character of God? Is it foundational for the gospel? Is Jesus' maleness associated with an ongoing created order of male priority? Our answers will affect Christianity's task of love, justice, and reconciliation in a world that is characterized by the global marginalization, oppression, and abuse of women.

...A guide to...419 English-language encyclopedias under many titles...