Quantum chromodynamics and excited baryons

Quantum chromodynamics is introduced, and the role of the color field (the gluons) in hadronic interactions outlined, valid at least for heavy quarks. The models adopted for the baryons are described, with emphasis on the breakthroughs of the last decade. The authors' present understanding of baryonic spectroscopy is illustrated from the literature, and attention is given to a number of open questions