Bounded by Sudan to the west and north, Kenya to the south, Somalia to the southeast, and Eritrea and Djibouti to the northeast, Ethiopia is a pivotal country in the geopolitics of the region. Yet it is important to understand this ancient and often splintered country in its own right. In A History of Modern Ethiopia, Bahru Zewde, one of Ethiopia’s leading historians, provides a compact and comprehensive history of his country, particularly the last two centuries. Of importance to historians, political scientists, journalists, and Africanists alike, Bahru’s A History of Modern Ethiopia, now with additional material taking it up to the last decade, will be the preeminent overview of present-day Ethiopia.

Standing in the sunshine is an illustrated social history of New Zealand women since they won the vote in 1893. New Zealand had the distinction of being the first country in the world where women's struggle for the vote resulted in success. This book explores all aspects of women's lives from 1893 to 1993, turning up new and unexpected moments in New Zealand women's history.

Tracing the history of colonial education in the Punjab, the large province of Hindustan divided today between India and Pakistan, this book argues that the British-controlled system of colonial education in Hindustan failed well before the national movement challenged foreign educational practice in the early twentieth century. Drawing on extensive archival research in Great Britain, India and Pakistan, Allender shows how the early ideas of British officials generated a highly imaginative village system of schooling. Attempting to accommodate local language and religious sensitivities, this broad-based scheme offered possibilities to improve the lot of village boys. The revolt of 1857, and a well-meaning crusade against female infanticide, prompted officials to drop this scheme and to content themselves with city based schools. Christian missionary tensions with the government over their evangelising agenda also meant that their focus on poor students was limited to a mere 17 years. These developments helped to create a strong indigenous voice for educational innovations and change, notably represented in the Arya Samaj. In 1882, the Hunter Commission marked a recognition over the previous 30 years made it impossible for them to reach the general population with an effective European-led scheme of education.