This concise history of Nicaragua provides the reader with a history of the ways in which key political and economic factors have contributed to the creation of the modern nation. Speaking of his upbringing, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega once said, "We were anti CocaCola, anti comic book, against everything good and bad represented by the United States, except baseball." Since taking office in January 2007, Ortega has continued to reject both capitalism and the United States, which he refers to as the imperial power. Notwithstanding Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega's disdain for the United States, our nation has played a significant role in shaping Nicaraguan nationalism, as well as the country's political, economic, and social systems. This book was written, in part, to help students and other interested readers understand that relationship, providing them with an up to date, concise, and analytical history of the Central American nation. It begins by describing the people, geography, culture, and current political, economic, and social systems of Nicaragua. The remainder of the volume is devoted to a chronological history, emphasizing recurring themes or factors that have shaped the modern state. These include the importance of elite families such as the Somoza dynasty that ruled for more than 40 years. Other topics include the agro export model of economic development, modern Nicaraguan nationalism, the Sandinista revolution and its legacy, and the democratic transition that began in 1990.