Salem Press

Great Lives from History: The 17th Century

Great Lives from History:
The 17th Century

Great Lives from History is a multivolume series detailing the biographies of important people throughout history, worldwide. It is universally well regarded for its breadth of content and extended essays. The series’ content bridges the gap between full-length, scholarly biographies and the shortened forms found in encyclopedias.

The geographic and occupational scope of the individuals covered in The 17th Century is broad: The individuals covered are identified with one or more of the following areas: Africa, the American Colonies, Austria, Belgium, Bohemia, Canada, China, Denmark, England, France, Germany, India, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Native America, the Netherlands, the Ottoman Empire, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Ukraine.

The editors provide coverage that is broad in areas of achievement as well as geography and at the same time includes the recognized shapers of history essential in any liberal arts curriculum. Major world leaders appear here - emperors, conquerors, kings, and queens - as do giants of religious faith who were central to the century, such as popes and theologians who left their imprint on political as well as spiritual institutions. The set also includes figures who have received little or no attention in the past - from Queen Njinga of Angola to the Ottoman scholar Kâtib Çelebî.

By category, the contents include figures who contributed to one or more of the following areas: architecture, art, business and economics, diplomacy, education, exploration, government and politics, law, literature, medicine, military and war, music, philosophy, religion, science, medicine, mathematics, society, and theater. Among these architects of civilization are 58 women, including writers, artists, scholars, scientists, and national leaders.

FORMAT
Basic information is offered, beginning with the subject’s name as best known to Westerners (and other versions, including full names, given names, alternative spellings and common epithets). Nationality, ethnicity, occupation, and historical role are included. Birth and death dates, reign dates, and a summary paragraph highlightng the individual’s historical importance round out the introduction.

The body of each essay is divided into four elements: “Early Life” covers upbringing and environment. “Life’s Work” is the heart of the piece and is a straightforward account of the person’s most significant achievements. The significance of the person is examined and, finally, further reading is suggested in an annotated, descriptive bibliography.

REFERENCE AIDS
Appendices include a time line, a glossary, Internet listings, a chronology, and four indexes: geographical, category, personage, and subject. Each essay is cross-referenced to other essays within the volume as well as to relevant essays in the companion set, Great Events from History.

ABOUT THIS EDITION
The 17th Century is the fourth installment in the revised and expanded Great Lives series. Great Lives’ content now covers a wider geographical area and includes more women than earlier biographical collections from Salem. In The 17th Century, 192 new essays have been added, including 58 women, for a total of 343 essays covering 351 historical figures.