Britannica Student Encyclopedia - 2010

out, the vanillin and other chemicals.

The liquid that results is called vanilla

extract. It is used for flavoring.

The Aztec of Mexico flavored their

chocolate drinks with vanilla for hundreds

of years before the Spanish arrived

in their lands in the 1500s. The Spanish

learned about vanilla from the Aztec,

and they later introduced it to other

Europeans. Vanilla soon became a popular

flavoring for candy and baked goods.

But natural vanilla is expensive to produce.

Most vanilla today is made from

vanillin that is synthesized, or created

artificially, in a factory.

#More to explore

Fermentation • Orchid • Pollen

Vanilla beans grow in the form of long pods.

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Vanilla 57

 

Vanuatu

The country of Vanuatu is a chain of

islands in the southwestern Pacific

Ocean. Its capital is Vila, on Efate

Island.

Geography

Vanuatu is about 1,100 miles (1,800

kilometers) east of Australia. It lies in

Melanesia, the western part of the large

region called Oceania. The country

includes 13 main islands and about 60

smaller ones. The largest island is

Espiritu Santo. Many of the islands have

mountains with active volcanoes. The

climate is hot and rainy.

Plants and Animals

Thick rain forests grow on the islands.

The drier regions have patches of grassland.

The islands’ birds include pigeons,

parrots, honeyeaters, and thrushes. Several

types of bats also live on the islands.

People

Most of the people in Vanuatu are

Melanesians. There are also small groups

of Europeans and people from the

nearby area of Polynesia. Christianity is

the main religion. Most of the people

live in small villages.

More than 100 languages are spoken in

Vanuatu. Most people also speak Bislama,

a language based on English.

English and French are also commonly

spoken.

Economy

Farming, fishing, and raising cattle are

the main jobs in Vanuatu. Farmers grow

coconuts, yams, taro, and other fruits

and vegetables. Vanuatu sells dried coconut

meat, beef, cocoa, and wood to

other countries. Tourism and banking

are also important to the economy.

History

Melanesian peoples have lived on the

islands of Vanuatu for more than 3,000

years. Europeans explored the islands in

the 1600s and 1700s. The British

named the islands the New Hebrides,

after the Scottish Hebrides island group.

British and French settlers arrived in the

1800s. Beginning in 1887 Great Britain

and France shared control of the islands.

The New Hebrides gained independence

in 1980. The islands’ people

renamed the country Vanuatu, which

means “Our Land Forever.”

..More to explore

Oceania • Vila

Facts About

VANUATU

Population

(2008 estimate)

233,000

Area

4,707 sq mi

(12,190 sq km)

Capital

Vila

Form of

government

Republic

Major towns

Vila (Port-Vila),

Luganville

58 Vanuatu BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

 

Vatican City

Vatican City is the smallest country in

the world. It is the home of the pope,

who is the head of the Roman Catholic

church. From Vatican City the pope

directs the government of the church.

Vatican City is also called the Vatican or

the Holy See.

Geography

Vatican City sits inside the city of Rome,

Italy. Stone walls surround most of Vatican

City. Inside the walls are a large

church called Saint Peter’s Basilica, the

Vatican Palace, and other buildings. The

Vatican Palace contains the pope’s apartments,

museums, a library, and the Sistine

Chapel. The Sistine Chapel is

famous for its ceiling, which has scenes

from the Bible that were painted by the

artist Michelangelo.

Vatican City also owns many buildings

in Rome. In the Alban Hills just south

of Rome is Castel Gandolfo, the pope’s

summer home. In addition, Vatican City

has embassies, called nunciatures, in

many capital cities.

People

The pope and hundreds of members of

the church’s government live and work

in Vatican City. Dozens of Swiss Guards,

who protect the pope, also live with

their families in the city. About 3,000

other people work in Vatican City. Most

of those workers live in Rome. Most

people speak Italian. The Latin language

is used in official documents and in

some church services.

Economy

Vatican City’s economy is different from

the economies of other countries.

Roman Catholics around the world give

money to their local churches. Vatican

City then receives some of that money.

The Vatican also sells books, stamps,

coins, and souvenirs. Tourists pay to see

its museums.

History

Rome became the center of the Roman

Catholic church by the 300s. After the

750s the popes controlled much of central

Italy. That area was called the Papal

States. In 1870 the government of Italy

took over the last of the church’s lands.

In 1929 the Italian government agreed

to let Vatican City become an independent

country.

..More to explore

Michelangelo • Pope • Roman

Catholicism • Rome

Saint Peter’s Basilica is one of the largest

Catholic churches in the world.

Facts About

VATICAN CITY

Population

(2008 estimate)

930

Area

109 acres (44

hectares)

Form of

government

Commission of

five leaders of the

Roman Catholic

church led by a

Secretariat of

State

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Vatican City 59

 

Veda

The ancient sacred texts of Hinduism

are called the Veda, which means

“knowledge.” Hindus composed these