Six new titles in this bestselling series are packed with information which provide comprehensive overviews of each nation's people, geography, history, government, economy, and culture. Abundant full-color photos and maps guide the reader on a voyage of discovery. This series meets national social studies and geography curriculum standards.

The five Central Asian states of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan constitute an area of increasing importance in global politics. The region currently serves as the main route for transporting American and NATO supplies and personnel into Afghanistan. Its Turkic Muslim peoples share ethnic and religious roots with China's Uighurs in neighboring Xinjiang, where some Uighurs have connections to the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan, fueling Beijing's already acute fears of terrorism and separatism.

Perhaps most importantly, the Caspian basin holds immense reserves of oil and natural gas. Countries rich in hydrocarbons -- like Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan -- can benefit greatly from this wealth, but often they must rely on foreign companies (usually backed by foreign governments) to develop these resources. Revolts in Kyrgyzstan (in 2005 and 2010) and Uzbekistan (in 2005); Tajikistan's civil war (in the 1990s); and continued terrorist incidents (2010--2011), strikes, and suicide bombings in Kazakhstan (in 2011) have contributed to concerns about stability in the region.

In Civil Society and Politics in Central Asia, a prominent group of scholars assesses both the area's manifold problems and its emerging potential, examining the often uneasy relationship between its states and the societies they govern. A meticulously in-depth study, the volume demonstrates the fascinating cultural complexity and diversity of Central Asia. Small, landlocked, and surrounded by larger powers, Central Asian nations have become adept at playing their neighbors against each other in order to maximize their own abilities to maneuver. The essays in this book look beyond the surface of Central Asian politics to discover the forces that are working for political change and continuity in this critical region of the world.

Thanks to its strategic location on the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe, the Kingdom of Spain has long been a place where various cultures and religions have come together. Before the Greeks established trading colonies along Spain's eastern coast during the 8th century BCE, the Basques, Iberians, and Celts were firmly entrenched in the region. The Romans, who ruled Spain from the 2nd century BCE until the 5th century CE, gave the country its name-Hispana-and also brought Christianity and the Latin language to Iberia. Three centuries later, the Moors gained control of Spain and brought their literature, music, art, and architecture. By the late 15th century, Christian rule was restored to Spain after Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castille captured the Muslim stronghold of Granada and united the country for the first time in its history. Spain remains an important force in current affairs, and this title, featuring clear, up-to-date information and eye-catching, full-colour design, delves into this captivating nation's eclectic history and heritage.