Encyclopedia of Historical Treaties and Alliances

Under what terms did the Revolutionary War end? Who signed the Treaty of Westphalia, and when? How did the Geneva Accords of 1954 open the door for the Vietnam War? Treaties and alliances govern relations among states and have exerted tremendous influence on historical events through the ages. But it can be difficult to find concise and accurate summaries of the terms of specific treaties and their effect on signatories. Encyclopedia of Historical Treaties and Alliances provides this information - together with extensive excerpts from the treaties themselves for more than 400 international agreements - in an elegantly accessible format. Divided into chronological chapters ranging from ancient Mesopotamia to the present, each chapter begins with a summary of the important trends and events in international relations of the era. Entries on specific agreements follow, each containing the date of the document's signing, a list of signatory nations, the leading negotiators, and key terms. A narrative discussion outlines the historical context, identifies the essential positions of the signatories, and summarizes the document's significance.;In addition to treaties that concluded wars, the book includes treaties on the environment, armaments, trade, human rights, scientific exploration, and a host of other concerns. Accessible to all audiences, the encyclopedia gives students, researchers, and teachers a clear idea of the changing political conditions throughout history and is an invaluable resource for academic and public libraries.