Nam H Nguyen

Introduction ::BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS Background: First inhabited by Arawak and later by Carib Indians, the Virgin Islands were settled by the Dutch in 1648 and …

Introduction ::BRITISH INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORY Background: Formerly administered as part of the British Crown Colony of Mauritius, the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) was established …

Introduction ::BRAZIL Background: Following more than three centuries under Portuguese rule, Brazil gained its independence in 1822, maintaining a monarchical system of government until the …

Introduction ::BOUVET ISLAND Background: This uninhabited, volcanic, Antarctic island is almost entirely covered by glaciers making it difficult to approach; it is recognized as the …

Introduction ::BOTSWANA Background: Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name upon independence in 1966. More than four decades of uninterrupted civilian …

Introduction ::BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA Background: Bosnia and Herzegovina declared sovereignty in October 1991 and independence from the former Yugoslavia on 3 March 1992 after a …

Introduction ::BOLIVIA Background: Bolivia, named after independence fighter Simon BOLIVAR, broke away from Spanish rule in 1825; much of its subsequent history has consisted of …

Introduction ::BHUTAN Background: In 1865, Britain and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Sinchulu, under which Bhutan would receive an annual subsidy in exchange for ceding …

Introduction ::BERMUDA Background: Bermuda was first settled in 1609 by shipwrecked English colonists headed for Virginia. Self-governing since 1620, Bermuda is the oldest and most …

Introduction ::BENIN Background: Present day Benin was the site of Dahomey, a West African kingdom that rose to prominence in about 1600 and over the …