New York now has a new, comprehensive history book that chronicles the state through centuries of change. A richly illustrated volume, The Empire State begins in the early seventeenth century (when the region was still populated solely by Native Americans) and concludes in the mid-1990s, by which time people from all over the world had made the state their home. Throughout the book, politics, economics, culture, and social history all are emphasized, as are the important contributions made by ethnic groups and women. The Empire State serves as a successor to A History of New York State, for many years the standard one-volume account of the region but today outdated and long out of print. Now students, scholars, and history enthusiasts will find thorough and fascinating coverage in The Empire State. The authors-distinguished authorities on New York State-draw on current research and perspectives as they address such topics as * the Dutch colonization of the region, * the English province, * the Revolution, * antebellum society, * the abolition of slavery and the Civil War, * the New York City media, * New York's vibrant political culture, * labor and leisure * women's suffrage * immigration and migration, * the World Wars, and * the state's economic development. Readers from the Big Apple to Buffalo and beyond will find The Empire State, which provides equal coverage to "upstate" and "downstate" events and people, satisfying and informative reading.