Hodge . . . edits an international team of more than 60 scholars in an examination of the personages, movements, and treaties banging that drum. The result appears to be the only English-language A-to-Z encyclopedia on the subject . . . going beyond American and European imperialism, the set includes coverage of the Japanese empire, as well as 30 primary documents. . . . BOTTOM LINE: A fine example of what a historical encyclopedia can be. Highly recommended for academic and larger public libraries.

Library Journal

Intended to be a jargon-free reference companion for students, this alphabetically arranged encyclopedia takes as its focus the great European powers in their rise and decline, culminating with the events leading to the First World War. . . . More specific than the Encyclopedia of Western Colonialism since 1450 (2006), this set is appropriate for serious students of the era and is recommended for academic and large public libraries.

Booklist

Beautifully designed, thoughtfully edited, carefully arranged, and masterfully written, this two-volume reference text is a user-friendly springboard source into the multifaceted subject of Imperialism. Not claiming to be exhaustive but rather comprehensive, not interpretive but descriptive, the Encyclopedia comes close to being a one-stop authority on the historical facts as well as a worthy guide to the scholarship published on the key themes of imperialism. . . . This is the first reference work devoted soley to Imperialism. For both its singularity and the text's authority I recommended the source to high school and college libraries. That said, not just novices but even junior and senior scholars of modern history would benefit from the accessibility and content of the encyclopedia as well as the rich list of resources published within.

ARBA

This set provides a comprehensive overview of the rise and decline of imperialist powers, the accompanying wars and treaties, the influential leaders, the cultural and philosophical rationales, and the peoples and places most affected. . . . Recommended for high school and college libraries.

Doug's Student Reference Room

Each expert-written article includes suggestions for further research. A detailed chronology and a selection of maps support the text, while 30 primary source documents illuminate contemporary attitudes and opinions . . . . [T]his guide will serve high school, public and academic libraries.'

Lawrence Looks at Books