This new Oxford reference work is the most up-to-date dictionary of world history available in paperback. The generous coverage of all aspects of history, from prehistory right up to the present day, makes this book the ideal guide both for students and the general reader. -- More than 4,500 clear and concise entries -- Biographies of key figures in world history, from Alexander the Great to Bill Clinton, Elizabeth I to Nelson Mandela -- Full international coverage with detailed entries for every country in the world -- Subject entries on religious and political movements, international organizations, and key battles and places -- Fifty detailed maps covering events and topics such as the Black Death, the Boer War, and the African slave trade