Racine, Jean. 1639-99. Classical French tragedy playwright. Molière’s rival. Andromaque 1667. Britannicus 1669. Phèdre 1677.

Radek, Karl. 1885-1939. Russian. COMINTERN leader, propagandist. Purged.

Radishchev, Aleksandr. 1749-1802. Liberal Russian writer. Denounced serfdom. Exiled to Siberia.

Radisson and Groseilliers. Huguenot explorers of Minnesota, 1658-9.

Radom, Confederation of. 1767. Polish nobles oppose king’s reforms leading to Partition.

Railways. 1795 England(horse-drawn). 1827 First US charter. 1827 Europe (St. Etienne-Andrézieux). 1869 US Central/Union Pacific. 1887 Canadian Pacific 1905 Trans-Siberian.

Ramathibodi I. 1312-69. Unified Siam. Founded Ayutthaya dynasty 1350-1767.

Rameau, Jean-Philippe. 1683-1764. Composer for harpsichord and operas based on classical themes. Castor and Pollux 1737. Pygmalion 1748.

Ramiro I. First King of Aragon 1035-63. Took lands from brother and Moors.

Rand, Ayn. 1905-82. Russian/US Objectivist novelist. Fountainhead 1943. Atlas Shrugged 1957.

Randolph, A. Philip. 1889-1979. US black civil rights/labor leader. March on Washington 1963.

Randolph, Peyton. 1721-75. American Revolutionary, first president of Continental Congress 1774.

Rastatt, Congress of. 1713. After War of Spanish Succession, Holy Roman Empire renounces claim to Spanish throne. 1797-9. Failed at peace between France and HRE.

Ravel, Maurice. 1875-1937. French Impressionist composer. Adopted new forms such as jazz and atonality. Boléro 1928.

Read, Herbert. 1893-1968. English critic, poet: Art and Society 1936.

Reagan, Ronald. 1911-2004. US actor, Republican President 1981-9. Tax reform. Strong economy. Aid to Nicaragua Contras. Irangate scandal. Fall of Soviet Empire.

Reed, Walter. 1851-1902. Discovered, 1900, connection between Yellow Fever and mosquito, control of which allowed the Panama Canal to be built.

Reform Bills. England. 1832: Russell redistributes Parliamentary seats, enfranchises renters. 1867: Disraeli enfranchises workers in towns. 1884: Gladstone enfranchises agricultural workers. Representation of People Acts.

Regency. England. 1811-20. George, Prince of Wales ruled for insane father, George III.

Registers, Parish. 1308 France. 1538 England.

Reich, Wilhelm. 1897-1957. German/US psychiatrist. Theory of Orgone, a force which permeates the body and is released by orgasm.

Reichstag. Ruling body of HRE and German states. = Imperial Diet.

Reis, Philip. 1834-74. Invented and demonstrated telephone 1861. Coined telephony. Bell.

Relativity. Einstein’s theories that space and time are not absolute. Special 1905. General 1916.

Religion, Wars of. 1562-1598. Eight French wars between Catholics and Protestants. Ended by Edict of Nantes. Sully. Mornay. Three Henrys War.

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