Difference between Sephardic and Ashkenazi Judaism

For the most part, modern Jewish history deals with the political,
social and economic advancements achieved by the Ashkenazi communities
in Europe, America, and later -- Palestine. Because of it's relatively
small size and involvement in the affairs of 'civilized' countries of
Europe and America, the Sephardi branch of Judaism is rerely dealt with in
the context of modern Jewish history. Their developement is however, though
not as influential upon the flow of the 'mainstream' history as that of the
Ashkenazi jewry, is nevertheless an area of interest to anyone undertaking
a serious st…