Vanbrugh, John. 1664-1726. English Restoration dramatist, Baroque architect: Castle Howard 1702. Blenheim Palace 1705.

Vatican City. 1929 State established by Lateran Treaty.

Veblen, Thorstein. 1857-1929. US sociologist. Theory of the Leisure Class 1899-“conspicuous consumption”.

Venetia. Venetii. 2C BC Rome. 5C Huns invade. 697 Republic of Venice.

Venezuela. Carib, Caraca, Teque. 1498 Columbus discovers. 1523 Spain settles. 1811 Independence declared. 1821 «Gran Colombia. 1829 Independent republic.

Venezuelan Claims. 1902-7. European countries blockade ports to press for loan repayment.

Venice. Venetia. 452 Founded. 697 Republic. Doge. 13-15C Venetian Empire. 1797 Austria. 1866 Italy.

Verona. Raeti. Etruscans. Gauls. 89BC Rome. 489 Ostrogoth. 774 Charlemagne. 1107 Republic. 1164 Veronese League...Lombard League. 1387 Milan. 1405 Venice. 1797 Austria. 1866 Italy.

Vietnam. Annam. 209BC Nam Vet kingdom. 111BC China. 2C Funan, 939 Independent. Khmer, Cham, Mongol invasions repelled. 1407 Ming. 1867 France (S). 1883 Tonkin, Annam French protectorates(N). 1940 Japanese occupy. 1945 Independent. 1946-54 French Indochina War. 1954 Communist Democratic Republic (N). 1955 Republic (S). 1962 Vietnam War. 1976 Socialist Republic of Vietnam 1987 Economic liberalization. 1995 US recognition.

Villa-Lobos, Heitor. 1887-1959. Brazilian composer. Blended classic, folk. Amazonas 1929.

Visconti. 1311-1450. Milanese noble family.

Voting Rights Act. 1965. US eliminates tests that disqualified black voters.

Vulgate. 405. Official Latin translation of Bible by St Jerome. First printed 1455.

Washington, Booker T. 1856-1915. US black educator: Up from Slavery 1901.

Waterloo, Battle. 1815. Final defeat of Napoleon by Wellington and Blücher.

Waters, Muddy. 1915-83. US Rhythm and Blues singer. Inspired Rolling Stones.

Weimar Republic. 1919-33. Post WWI Germany. Hyperinflation, unemployment, instability. Rise of Nazism.

West, Nathanael. 1903-40. US novelist. Absurd, black humour. Miss Lonelyhearts 1933. Day of the Locusts 1939.

Westminster Assembly. 1643-52. Convened by Long Parliament to inaugurate Presbyterianism in England and Wales. Westminster Confession of Faith.

Westminster, Statute of. 1275,85,90. First reference to Great Council of England as Parliament. Reformed civil and criminal law. Legal protection for poor. 1931. British affirmation of autonomous dominion of British Empire countries. Established British Commonwealth.

Westminster Confession of Faith. 1647. Doctrine of Presbyterian religion of Westminster Assembly called by Long Parliament.

Whig. 1834-54. US political party. Divided over slavery, most became Republican.

Whistler, James. 1834-1903. US painter. Use of light and color influenced abstract art. Arrangement in Black and Grey, No 1 (Whistler’s Mother) 1871.

White Mountain, Battle. 1620. First battle of Thirty Years War. Catholic League defeats Bohemian nobles.

Whitney, Eli. 1765-1825. US inventor. Cotton gin, 1793. Mass production with interchangeable parts 1801.

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