This volume, which describes and evaluates the global impact of ten of the
eighteenth century's most important events, is the third in a multivolume
series intended to acquaint readers with the seminal events of modern
times. Earlier volumes, published in 1995 and 1996, highlighted events in
the twentieth and nineteenth centuries, respectively, and future volumes
will cover the most important world events of earlier centuries. There is
also an ongoing series of volumes addressing the American experience.

Our collective classroom experience provided the inspiration for this
project. Having encountered literally thousands of entry-level college
students whose knowledge of the world in which they live is sadly de-
ficient, we determined to write a series of books that would concentrate
on the most important events affecting those students (and others as
well) in the hope that they would better understand their world and
how it came to be. We hope these books will stimulate the reader to
delve further into the events covered in each volume and to take a
greater interest in history in general.

The current volume is designed to serve two purposes. First, the edi-
tors have provided an introduction that presents factual material about
each event in a clear, concise, chronological order. Second, each intro-
duction is followed by a longer interpretive essay by a recognized au-
thority exploring the ramifications of the event under consideration. Each

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