Countries, Peoples & Cultures

This brand-new series from Salem Press provides valuable insight into the social, cultural, economic, historical, and religious practices and beliefs of nearly every nation around the globe. With nine comprehensive, up-to-date volumes spanning every major world region, this in-depth reference source is one of the most thorough compilations of its kind on the market today.

The Countries, Peoples & Cultures series is complete with specific information on over 200 countries and self-governing territories, as well as separate appendices profiling 21 types of governments currently in power and 10 major world religions. Useful for students, educators, academic researchers, and other professionals in their fields, this encyclopedia is a must-have for community, academic, and specialized libraries across the nation.

Every volume in this series contains Culture Profiles that explore each nation’s background, practices, beliefs, laws, peoples, and more, ensuring users receive a complete, three-dimensional understanding of the countries they research. Every Culture Profile contains a picture of the country’s flag and two large colored maps, one highlighting the country’s location in its region of the world and the other detailing the capital, major cities, and major natural landmarks. An Introduction provides general information about each country, such as its Population, Official Language(s), Physical Size, Climate, Currency, and National Motto/Anthem. Subsequent sections dive deep into a diverse array of topics, including: Environment & Geography, Customs & Courtesies, Lifestyle, Arts & Entertainment, Cultural Sites & Landmarks, Libraries & Museums, Holidays, Youth Culture, Cultural History, Transportation, Infrastructure, Media & Communications, Standard of Living, Education, Women’s Rights, Health Care, Government, Tourism, Agriculture, and the Economy. Every Culture Profile ends with a list of Off- Beat Facts, such as origins of familiar words or unique traditions only found in the featured nation.

An appendix of World Government Profiles focuses on 21 types of governments found in the world today, highlighting each government’s Guiding Premise, Typical Structure, Role of the Citizen, and modern-day Examples. Governments featured in this appendix include: Commonwealth, Communist, Confederacy/Confederation, Constitutional Republic, Constitutional Monarchy, Democracy, Dictatorship/ Military Dictatorship, Ecclesiastical, Federal Republic, Federation, Monarchy, Parliamentary Monarchy, Parliamentary Republic, Presidential, Republic, Socialist, Sultanate/Emirate, Theocratic Republic, Totalitarian, Treaty System, and Failed State.

An additional appendix of World Religion Profiles reviews 10 major world religions and includes a General Description that details the Religion Name, Number of Adherents Worldwide, Basic Tenets, Sacred Text(s), Major Figures, Major Holy Sites, Major Rites & Celebrations, and other beliefs, such as the existence of an afterlife. Origins of each religion are also thoroughly explored, including the History & Geography, Founder/Major Prophet, Philosophical Basis, and Holy Places, as well as explanations of the faith’s Governance, Personal Conduct of Believers, Rites, Celebrations, Services, and more. Religions profiled in this appendix include: Baha’i, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Religious Traditions of Africa, Religious Traditions of Asia, and Sikhism.