Below you will find UW Libraries Search (for finding books), search tips, and selected reference and other books related to the topic of this course. Encyclopedias are good for getting background information, with articles typically written by specialists in the field (and edited by professional editors, unlike Wikipedia). Other books might include relevant information in long form, as opposed to shorter articles and reports. Use the table of contents and the index (and search function in e-books) to target the information you need.
Encyclopedias and other reference sources can provide background information on your topic and help identify key people, events and dates. Many encyclopedia articles will provide a bibliography or list of related readings that you can use in your own research.