Great Britain, the dominant industrial and maritime power of the 19th century, played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. At its zenith, the British Empire stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th century saw the UK's strength seriously depleted in two Wor ......more...

Although ultimately a victor in World Wars I and II, France suffered extensive losses in its empire, wealth, manpower, and rank as a dominant nation-state. Nevertheless, France today is one of the most modern countries in the world and is a leader among European nations. Since 1958, it has constructed a presidential democracy resistant to the insta ......more...

London used to be the world's largest metropolis and although it has ceded that title to the sprawling cities of the southern hemisphere, it's still a huge bewildering place if it's your first visit. Even if you speak English fluently you can only learn how to pronounce place names like' Greenwich' 'Leicester Square' and 'Chomondeley Place' by exam ......more...

The city of Nice has been a popular tourist destination for centuries, for royalty and commoners alike. As a transportation center, with the Paris-Nice train and the international airport, it probable that your entry into Beyond will be Nice. Nice is ancient. Inhabited for 400,000 years, the "modern" city of Nikaia was established by the Greeks ......more...