This dictionary serves as a first point of reference for all aspects of political, diplomatic, military, social and economic history, and provides overviews of the cultural and artistic developments of the period. The century was one of change, and the book's 800 entries chart these changes in all parts of the world. In contrast to earlier reference works, this dictionary focuses a considerable amount of attention on the role of women, on African-American and native American figures, and on areas that fall outside the European-North American axis. Its many biographical entries provide key facts about the significant figures of the century, all of them cross-referenced to thematic entries where appropriate.The historical span of the dictionary is 1800-1900, although some entries range beyond these dates to give a comprehensive coverage of long-term or continuous developments. There is a selection of maps and a full index.