Berthelot, Marcelin. 1827-1907. French organic chemist. Alcohol synthesis 1854. Organic Chemistry 1860.

Bertin, Jean. 1917-75. French engineer. Jet silencers; air cushion vehicles.

Bérulle, Cardinal Pierre. 1575-1629. Founder of Oratory. ‘French’ school of spiritual thought. Congregation of priests...Lazarites. Congregationalists.

Berzelius, Jacob. 1779-1848. Swedish chemist, created symbolic notation 1808. Atomic Weights, 1818. Silicon 1823.

Besant, Annie. 1847-1933. English Theosophist. Founded Indian Home Rule League 1916.

Bessarabia. Disputed Black Sea region between Romania and Russia. 14C Moldavia. 15/16C Ottoman. 1812 Russia. 1918 Romania. 1940 MSSR. 1941 Romania. 1944 USSR. 1991 Moldova.

Bessel, F.W. 1784-1846. German astronomer. B Function 1817.

Bessemer, Henry. 1813-98. English inventor of economical steel making process, 1856.

Best, Charles. 1899-1978. Canadian. insulin discoverer. Banting.

Bethmann-Hollweg. 1856-1921. German Chancellor, 1909-17. Tried to mediate before WWI. Overthrown by Hindenburg and Ludendorf.

Betti, Ugo. 1892-1953. Italian dramatist. La Padrona 1927.

Beveridge Report. 1942. Advocated ‘cradle to grave’ social insurance in Britain.

Bhadracarya-pranidhana. Buddhist vows of good conduct.

Bhagavad-Gita. (Lord’s Song) Hindu scripture.

Bhagavatas. 2C BC. Hindu sect.

Bhascara. 1114-85. Hindu mathematician/astrologer. First user of decimal system.

Bhutan. Himalayan kingdom. 9C Tibet invaders settle. c1630 Independent. 17,18C Tibet invades. 1865 Part British 1907 Monarchy. 1910 British Protectorate. 1949 Indian Protectorate.

Biafra. 1967-70. Ojukwu-led Ibos try to secede from Nigeria resulting in famine.

Bible. Hebrew and Christian sacred scriptures translated from Hebrew and Aramaic. 3C BC Greek translation. 1382 Wycliffe, Rogers, English. 1522-34 Luther, German. 1611 King James version. Vulgate by St. Jerome. Apocrypha.

Bibliothèque Nationale. French National Library begun by Charles V collection now houses 20M works. 7M Books.

Biddle, John. 1615-62. Founded Unitarianism. 12 Arguments 1644.

Biedermeier. 1815-35. German bourgeois kitsch style of sentimental art and utilitarian furniture. Circular pedestal table.

Bienvenüe, Fulgence. 1852-1936. “Père du Metro”. Engineered first Paris métro line 1898.

Big Bang. 15 billion BCE. Scientifically accepted origin of Universe.

Big Stick Policy. Roosevelt’s foreign policy. Power as a deterrent. Mahan.

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