The revolutions around the globe in the 19th century have had enormous impact on the course of history. To help students better understand the major developments in the tumultuous 19th century and their impact on the 20th century, this resource offers detailed description and expert analysis of the 19th century's most important events: the Napoleonic Era, the Congress of Vienna and the Age of Metternich, the Latin American Wars of Independence, the Reform Bill of 1832, the Revolutions of 1848, the emancipation of the Russian serfs, the Meiji Restoration, the Unification of Germany, Marxism and the rise of Socialism, and Imperialism. Each of the ten events is dealt with in a separate chapter. Designed for students, the format features an interpretive essay that places the event in a broader context and promotes student analysis. The introductory essay provides factual material about the event in a clear, concise, chronological manner that makes complex history understandable. The interpretive essay explores the short-term and far-reaching ramifications of the event. An annotated bibliography identifies the most important and recent scholarship about each event. A full page photograph of each event accompanies the narrative.