Encyclopedia Of Transportation (6 Volume Set)

Throughout history, humans have devoted considerable skill and creativity to finding ways to travel or to send goods from one place to another.Inventions and discoveries related to transportation have changed and shaped various civilizations and relationships between societies. From the earliest sleds and boats through the development of railroads and automo-biles, improvements in transportation helped people broaden the range of their activities. By the 1900s new technology allowed individuals to leave the surface of the Earth in airplanes and later to journey into space. In the twenty-first century, further developments in air, sea, land, and space transportation will continue to change the ways people travel, send goods, and communicate.Although the technical achievements in transportation have been spec-tacular, the close connection between advances in transportation and the evolution of human culture is equally noteworthy. An efficient network of roads helped the Romans to expand their empire and communicate with distant parts of it. Improved sailing ships allowed Europeans to cross oceans on voyages of discovery. Railroads carried pioneers across North America to settle western lands. The Suez and Panama Canals increased global trade and travel by providing gateways between major bodies of wa-ter. The automobile gave rise to entirely new communities and new routines for daily life, and the airplane changed the way people think about distance and time.Designed for libraries serving middle and high school students, this six-volume Encyclopedia of Transportation is a comprehensive resource that covers key developments in the history of moving people and goods and provides extensive coverage of different methods of transportation. The list of topics and the entries were reviewed by a board of distinguished consul-tants-experts on maritime history, railroads, motor vehicles, aviation, space, and other fields related to transportation.The vast range of subjects covered includes American and world his-tory, geography, economics, science and technology, the environment, and literature. The encyclopedia also profiles inventors, engineers, and pioneers who have played leading roles in transportation, and explorers who blazed new routes and discovered unknown regions of the worldThe work examines broad issues as well as specific topics, discussing the social, economic, and political effects of developments in transportation and technology-and their contribution to creating a global commu-nity. It also explores the directions that current research may lead. Although transportation in the United States is the main focus, major developments in other parts of the world are addressed. Arranged in alphabetical order, the articles in the Encyclopedia of Transportation are illustrated with paintings, photographs, maps, and line art.Tables and graphs summarize relevant data. Many entries include sidebars on interesting facts or people, or extracts from songs and literature. Cross-references at the end of articles direct the reader to related articles. Although the encyclopedia contains a substantial amount of technical and scientific information, this material is written in clear language at an appropriate level and includes helpful illustrations of processes and ma-chines. Definitions of difficult or unfamiliar terms appear in the margin.At the end of Volume 6, students will find a Glossary, a Time Line, and a list of Suggested Readings. The Glossary provides explanations of key terms used in the entries. The Time Line highlights significant events in the history of transportation. The Suggested Readings section lists books that offer supplementary information on a variety of topics related to transportation.