All things must pass. In an understatement of historic proportions, quite a few things have passed since the end of the last millennium. Some of the history-making events include the election of George W. Bush, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and wars in Afghanistan and Iraq; spectacular images from probes in outer space, medical advances and debate, and many new scientific discoveries on Earth; a devastating earthquake in Iran and the deadly tsunami in Asia; the downfall of Enron and the comeback of Apple, not to mention the dot.com bubble burst and whatever happened to the budget surplus?. Whew! A new era has taken shape, and The Handy History Answer Book records it. A concise guide to all things historical, Handy History addresses people, times, and events in a wide-ranging and comprehensive manner, complemented by nearly 200 illustrations and, for those who like their history instant, a chronology of major events. Beginning with a section on historical eras, this popular reference source tracks history with obsessive zeal and tight editing. The Handy History Answer Book organizes information in thirteen specific subject sections ranging from politics to war to science to religion. It tackles exploration and settlement, technological advances, legal fireworks, financial and business events, social movements, natural and man-made disasters, medicine and disease, and art and culture. Along the way you’ll meet a cast of thousands, including Socrates (an early advocate of the question-and-answer format) and Plato, Elvis Presley, and Thomas Edison, four guys who’d be real fun together at a dinner party. The Handy History Answer Book is a fingertip, time-traveling guide through the pages of history.