Historical Dictionary of Ecuador - Hardcover

by George M. Lauderbaugh (Author)

In a country the size of Colorado one can explore snow-capped mountain peaks, tropical rainforests and coastal beaches. These three continental regions also offer a variety of flora and fauna that are a dream come true to the botanist, zoologist and ornithologist. The famous Galápagos Islands provide an additional living laboratory for the natural scientist. The ethnographer and sociologist will be fascinated by the diversity of Ecuador's people and one could spend a lifetime studying the plethora of distinct ethnic, racial and linguistic groups. Students of economics will find an interesting case study of a mono-cultural economy that uses the U.S. dollar and avoids some of the pitfalls that other Latin American countries suffer from. Ecuador's rich traditions in art, music, literature and architecture are a draw to scholars interested in culture. Ecuador has been described by one author as a "country of contrasts." This is indeed an apt description of Ecuador's geography and peoples. It also partially explains the nation's traditional lack of political cohesion, which has plagued its quest for stability and development.

Author Biography

George M. Lauderbaugh is Professor of History Emeritus at Jacksonville State University in Alabama. He has been interested in Ecuador since 1962 when he first visited the country. In addition to three previous books on Ecuador he has written articles and reviews for the Latin Americanist and other academic journals. Lauderbaugh is a member of the National Academy of History of Ecuador and the Southeastern Council on Latin American Studies.