fighting ended in 1999, but problems
continued between Yugoslavia’s Albanians
and Serbs. The United Nations
temporarily took over the government of
Kosovo.
In 2003 the republics of Serbia and
Montenegro formed a new union that
gave each republic more independence.
Montenegro broke away from the union
in 2006. In 2008 Kosovo declared independence
from Serbia. Other countries
supported the move, but Serbia refused
to recognize Kosovo as a separate country.
..More to explore
Balkan Peninsula • Belgrade
• Communism • Kosovo • Montenegro
• Yugoslavia
Boats travel on the picturesque Danube
River in Belgrade, Serbia.
Farmers grow corn on a hillside in Serbia.
Facts About
SERBIA
Population
(2008 estimate)
7,352,000
Area
29,922 sq mi
(77,498 sq km)
Capital
Belgrade
Form of
government
Republic
Major cities
Belgrade, Novi
Sad, Nis,
Kragujevac
72 Serbia BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
Serra, Junipero
Junipero Serra was a Spanish priest. In
1769 he founded the first mission
(Christian community) in California at
the Spanish settlement of San Diego.
The Spanish established missions in
North America to spread Christianity to
Native Americans.
Serra was born on the Spanish island of
Majorca on November 24, 1713. He
became a priest in the Roman Catholic
church. In 1750 he arrived in Mexico
City to work as a missionary. He worked
there until 1767, when he was sent to
California to start missions there.
From 1770 to 1782 Serra founded eight
more Californian missions. He died in
Carmel, California, on August 28, 1784.
#More to explore
Missions, Spanish
Seuss, Dr.
The author Theodor Seuss Geisel is better
known to readers as Dr. Seuss. He
wrote nearly 50 books for children. His
stories are famous for their nonsense
words, wild rhymes, and amusing drawings
of unusual creatures.
Geisel was born on March 2, 1904, in
Springfield, Massachusetts. He
graduated from Dartmouth College in
New Hampshire in 1925. Then he
studied at Oxford University in
England and the Sorbonne, a college in
France. After that he worked as an
illustrator and cartoonist.
During and afterWorldWar II (1939–
45) Geisel served in a part of the U.S.
Army that made informational films.
Two films he made during the war won
Academy awards.
Geisel’s first children’s book, And to
Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street,
was published in 1937. He wrote it
under the name Dr. Seuss. His most
famous books include Horton Hears a
Who (1954), How the Grinch Stole
Christmas (1957), The Cat in the Hat
(1957), Green Eggs and Ham (1960), The
Lorax (1971), and Oh, the Places You’ll
Go! (1990). Geisel both wrote the stories
and drew the pictures for his books.
In the late 1950s Geisel started a
company called Beginner Books, which
produced books for children. Geisel
died on September 24, 1991, in La
Jolla, California.
#More to explore
Literature for Children
Dr. Seuss poses with a Cat in the Hat toy.
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Seuss, Dr. 73
Seychelles
The country of Seychelles is a scattered
group of islands in the western Indian
Ocean. The capital, Victoria, is on the
largest island, Mahe.
Geography
Seychelles lies about 1,000 miles (1,600
kilometers) east of Africa. It includes
more than 100 islands divided into two
groups: the Mahe group and the coralline
group. The Mahe islands are rocky
and mountainous. The coralline islands
are flat and made of coral.
Plants and Animals
Seychelles is home to the rare coco de
mer, or double coconut tree. Avocados,
breadfruit, bananas, mangoes, papayas,
and pineapples also grow on the islands.
Animals include green sea turtles, giant
tortoises, and many types of bird.
People
Most of the people are Seychellois Creole.
They have a mixture of Asian, African,
and European ancestors. The most
common language is Creole. Creole is a
mixture of French, English, and African
languages. Roman Catholicism is the
main religion. Most Seychellois live in
cities or towns, mainly on Mahe Island.
Economy
Tourism is a major source of money for
Seychelles. Fishing is another important
part of the economy. The country’s
main product is canned tuna. Farmers
grow coconuts, cinnamon, bananas, and
tea. They also raise pigs and chickens.
History
No one lived on the islands until the
1700s, when French settlers arrived with
their African slaves. In 1814, after losing
a war, France gave the islands to Great
Britain. Seychelles gained independence
from Britain in 1976.
..More to explore
Indian Ocean • Victoria
Seychelles is known for its fine beaches.
Facts About
SEYCHELLES
Population
(2008 estimate)
85,500
Area
176 sq mi (455
sq km)
Capital
Victoria
Form of
government
Republic
Major city
Victoria
74 Seychelles BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
Shakespeare,
William
William Shakespeare is often praised as
the world’s greatest playwright. Though
he lived 400 years ago, his plays are still
studied and enjoyed today.
Early Life
William Shakespeare was born in 1564
in the town of Stratford-upon-Avon,
England. He had three younger brothers
and two younger sisters. His father was a
glove maker who later became the
mayor of Stratford.
When Shakespeare was 18, he married
Anne Hathaway. What Shakespeare did
to support his young family is unknown.
