Albigenses. (Cathars). Southern French ascetic Neo-Manichean heretic Christian sect. Eliminated by 13th Crusade, 1208-1229 and Inquisition.

Albion. Ancient Greek, Roman name for Great Britain, probably from Gaelic.

Alcaeus. c610-580BC. Greek tragic poet.

Alcmaeonidae. 7-5C BC. Prominent Athenian family. Pericles.

Alembert, Jean Le Rand d’. 1717-83. French philosopher and mathematician, Encyclopaedist.

Alesia. 52BC. Caesar defeats Vercingétorix, 52BC. Decisive in conquering Gaul.

Antaeus. Giant son of Poseiden killed by Heracles.

Antony, Mark. c83-30BC. Caesar’s lieutenant. Triumvirate 43-32. Defeated at Actium with Cleopatra. Suicide.

Arab-Israeli Wars. 1948-9. Palestinians flee to Arab countries. 1956. Israel captures Sinai, UN takes over. 1967. Six Day War. Israel defeats Egypt, Syria, Jordan, gains Jerusalem, Sinai, Golan,... 1973. Egypt, Syria attack = October War.

Arab League. 1945. Non-aggression and cooperation treaty of Arab states. Collective Treaty of Defence, 1950, to defend against Israeli aggression.

Aramaeans. Ancient Semitic people of Mesopotamia, Syria. Language widespread 10C-5C BC. Alphabet 720 BC.

Ardon, Mordecai. 1896-1992. Polish/Israeli abstract painter. Jerusalem landscapes.

Arianism. 313-. Christian heresy. “Christ not of same nature as God.” Condemned at Nicaea.

Arius. c256-336. Alexandrian advocate of Arianism. Council of Nicaea.

Artaxerxes. I-III. 5-4C BC. Achaemenid kings.

Assad, Hafiz al-. 1928-2000. Syrian President 1971-. Supports Qadaffi, PLO. Anti-Israel.

Athanasius, St. c296-373. Bishop of Alexandria: advocated Doctine of Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Ghost) vs divinity of Christ. Council of Nicaea.

Atom Bomb. 1945 US. 1949 USSR. 1952 Britain. 1960 France. 1964 China. 1974 India. 1989 South Africa (dismantled). 1998 Pakistan. ? Israel. 1990s Argentina, Brazil. Soon: Iraq, Iran, North Korea. H-Bomb. Neutron Bomb.

Atreus. King of Mycenae. Father of Agamemnon and Menelaus.

Ayala Plan. 1911. Zapata to renew Mexican Revolution, return land to communal ownership.

Babylonia. c8000BC Tigris-Euphrates Civ’n. 1792-50BC Hammurabi’s emp. c1530 Kassite. 11C Aramaen, Assyrian. 625 Chaldean. 538 Achaemenid. 331BC Alexander.

Bactria. c1500BC Aryan. 545BC Persia. 328BC Alexander. 256BC-140 Graeco-Bactria. Badakhshan. 7C Moslem. 1220 Genghis Khan. Now Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan.

Baedeker, Karl. 1801-59. German guidebook publisher 1846-.

Baekeland, Leo. 1863-1944. US: invented Bakelite 1909 (first plastic). Velox.

Baer, Karl. 1792-1876. Estonian/German naturalist: founded science of embryology. Discovered ovum 1827.

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