Historical Dictionary of Colombia

by Harvey F. Kline

Overview

Colombia is the fourth largest country in South America and one of the continent’s most populous nations. It has substantial oil reserves and is a major producer of gold, silver, emeralds, platinum, and coal, along with a significant number of natural resources. Colombia has also been ravaged by a decades-long violent conflict involving outlawed armed groups, drug cartels, and gross violations of human rights. Recently the country has made some progress towards improving security, and President Santos has pledged to continue to improve security by passing laws to strengthen the judicial system; a reform of the manner of distributing royalties paid by mining and petroleum companies; and a tougher law against corruption.

The Historical Dictionary of Colombia covers the history of Colombia through a chronology, an introductory essay, appendixes, and a bibliography. The dictionary section has over 1,000 cross-referenced entries on important personalities, politics, economy, foreign relations, religion, and culture. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about Colombia.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780810878136
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	06/01/2012
Series:	Historical Dictionaries of the Americas
Pages:	590
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.70(d)

About the Author

Harvey F. Kline has studied Colombia since he was exchange student there in 1964. He retired from university teaching in 2010 after 42 years of teaching at the Universidad de los Andes (Bogotá), the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

Editorial Reviews

This volume covers the political and historical growth of Colombia from the development of the San Augustin culture until July 4, 2011. The author chose this date because, 'First, it was the 20th anniversary of the current Constitution; second, I needed a cutoff date [because Colombia changes dramatically every day.' This volume serves as a comprehensive yet simple review of the country’s interesting past. Arranged in typical dictionary format, it contains boldfaced cross-references and extensive see also references. ... The dictionary is successful in providing explanations of acronyms and abbreviations, a chronology, and an introduction that includes details concerning the land, people, pre-Colombian period, Spanish colonization, independence, and the transition of presidents. Entries describe political groups, historical issues, events, and important locations. The length of the dictionary entries varies from a quarter of a page to four pages. Appendixes include a list of Colombian presidents, city and area populations, and average levels of violence for various times in the country’s history. The book concludes with an extensive bibliography broken down by subject for more in-depth research. This is a general-information resource that is appropriate for most public and academic libraries.

Booklist

This is a substantial publication and will surely answer most quick reference enquiries, both from the general public and from the user looking for more in-depth information. The work brings together a veritable wealth of information on an impressive range of topics into a single handy volume. There are excellent cross-references throughout and a 34-page bibliography arranged alphabetically by general themes; references are mostly to recent English language publications. There is also helpful guidance to resources available on the Internet, whilst the volume is completed by a useful index. The volume is comprehensive in scope and the layout of entries makes it easy to use; it would seem a mere splitting of hairs, therefore, to suggest that this is an encyclopedia rather than a dictionary.

Reference Reviews

This work follows the same format as the others titles in Scarecrow Press’s Historical Dictionaries of the Americas series and libraries that find those titles useful and well used will find this one useful as well. Because there is not a lot of information available about this country, however, more libraries may want to consider its purchase.

American Reference Books Annual

This volume covers the political and historical growth of Colombia from the development of the San Augustin culture until July 4, 2011. The author chose this date because, 'First, it was the 20th anniversary of the current Constitution; second, I needed a cutoff date [because Colombia changes dramatically every day.' This volume serves as a comprehensive yet simple review of the country’s interesting past. Arranged in typical dictionary format, it contains boldfaced cross-references and extensive see also references. ... The dictionary is successful in providing explanations of acronyms and abbreviations, a chronology, and an introduction that includes details concerning the land, people, pre-Colombian period, Spanish colonization, independence, and the transition of presidents. Entries describe political groups, historical issues, events, and important locations. The length of the dictionary entries varies from a quarter of a page to four pages. Appendixes include a list of Colombian presidents, city and area populations, and average levels of violence for various times in the country’s history. The book concludes with an extensive bibliography broken down by subject for more in-depth research. This is a general-information resource that is appropriate for most public and academic libraries.

Booklist

This is a substantial publication and will surely answer most quick reference enquiries, both from the general public and from the user looking for more in-depth information. The work brings together a veritable wealth of information on an impressive range of topics into a single handy volume. There are excellent cross-references throughout and a 34-page bibliography arranged alphabetically by general themes; references are mostly to recent English language publications. There is also helpful guidance to resources available on the Internet, whilst the volume is completed by a useful index. The volume is comprehensive in scope and the layout of entries makes it easy to use; it would seem a mere splitting of hairs, therefore, to suggest that this is an encyclopedia rather than a dictionary.

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This is a substantial publication and will surely answer most quick reference enquiries, both from the general public and from the user looking for more in-depth information. The work brings together a veritable wealth of information on an impressive range of topics into a single handy volume. There are excellent cross-references throughout and a 34-page bibliography arranged alphabetically by general themes; references are mostly to recent English language publications. There is also helpful guidance to resources available on the Internet, whilst the volume is completed by a useful index. The volume is comprehensive in scope and the layout of entries makes it easy to use; it would seem a mere splitting of hairs, therefore, to suggest that this is an encyclopedia rather than a dictionary.

"American Reference Books Annual"

This work follows the same format as the others titles in Scarecrow Press’s Historical Dictionaries of the Americas series and libraries that find those titles useful and well used will find this one useful as well. Because there is not a lot of information available about this country, however, more libraries may want to consider its purchase.

American Reference Books Annual (ARBA)