Britannica Spotlights

In any dictionary you will find the definition of spotlight as something like "strong light that illuminates a small area" or "a point of attraction". The Encyclopedia Britannica Online could not have chosen a better name-description for this section of their site.

Within their "spotlight" section, the Encyclopedia Britannica sheds light on a vast number of interesting historical and societal facts and figures, illuminating the lives of the people who have shaped, formed or changed the way we look at society, history and ourselves.

Each article - or articles, rather - is interlinked providing the reader - much like in Wikipedia's fashion - with the opportunity to explore related topics and visit relevant sources on the Net, photo galleries, profiles, multimedia (where applicable), and even some learning activities. Unlike encyclopedic entries, the articles you will find in Spotlight are "lighter" and have the feel and flair of blog reading, making them ideal for pupils' research projects for school.

Although the encyclopedic articles presented on the Spotlight section change from time to time, here is a small selection of what is already available for you to explore:

• Reflection on the Holocaust

  An overview covering the main facts about this tragic period in History, from its origins to the legacy it left.

• Guide to Shakespeare

  Articles delineating the historical importance and literary relevance of Shakespeare works and its impact in the world.

• The American Presidency

  A chronological and historical visit on the profiles of all American presidents, from George Washington to Barack Obama.

• All About the Oscar

  For movie lovers all over, this is a one-place-find-all section of the Encyclopedia Britannica containing detailed accounts of Oscar winning movies, actor and actress with historical background on them and more, much more.

• 300 Women who Changed the World

  These are detailed accounts about the mark on different civilizations left by courageous women all over the world. This incredible collection of articles takes us on a journey through lives of these women and their endurance shown to achieve basic rights as voting, property ownership and more.

Spotlight is an ongoing project by the Encyclopedia Britannica and its collection of topics is sure to increase rapidly.