As Peter Baskerville emphasizes in his introduction to this volume, its subject has never been (and never will be) 'knowable in the singular'. Diversity-not just of human social characteristics but of landscapes, climates, resources-has been one of Ontario's hall-marks from the beginning. Thus the 'sites of power' in his title are inevitably matched by sites of resistance, and the dynamics of their interactions are a recurring theme through-out this history. But conflict is only part of the story. From the early Paleolithic period to the Aboriginal peoples' first encounters with Europeans, through settlement and immigration, Confederation, war, economic booms and busts, all the way to the provincial election of 2003, Baskerville combines social, political, economic, and cultural histories in an analysis as complex and multi-layered as the province itself.

:Detailed endnotes facilitate further research. :Numerous maps, archival images, and photographs provide complementary perspectives. :Sidebars offer additional insight into a wide range of topics. :Population figures, economic statistics, and political records (lists of premiers, electoral results, etc.) are presented in appendices at the end of the book for easy reference.

Peter A. Baskerville specializes in pre-Confederation and nineteenth-century Canadian history. He teaches in the Department of History at the University of Victoria and is the author of Ontario: Image, Identity, and Power and co-author of A Concise History of Business in Canada.