Lively, compact, and highly readable, this bestselling history offers a fascinating overview of the Canadian landscape and its people. From the earliest human inhabitants of North America who learned to thrive in challenging physical environments to the French and British invaders who established colonies across a vast continent to the influential individuals who have shaped Canada's social and political orders since Confederation, Nelles describes a dynamic country that is constantly changing, adjusting, and redefining itself. Revised to cover recent developments and issues of ongoing concern, the third edition is an indispensable introduction to the nation that is Canada today and a perfect companion to celebrations of Canada's 150th anniversary.