Weil, Simone. 1909-43. French mystic philosopher. Gravity and Grace 1947.

Weill, Kurt. 1900-50. German surrealist satirical opera composer. Socio-political operas of great influence on future composers. ThreePenny Opera 1928 with Brecht. Happy End 1929.

Weizmann, Chaim. 1874-1952. Russian/Polish Zionist. First President of Israel 1949-52.

Wessex. 495- Anglo-Saxon kingdom in south England. 829 +Mercia. 927 Conquered Danes to rule England. Ethelred. Alfred. Athelstan.

West Indies Federation. Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserat, St Christopher-Nevis-Anguila, St Lucia, St Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago.

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.

Wheatstone, Charles. 1802-75. English physicist: microphone. Telegraph 1836. Resistance bridge 1843. Concertina 1829. Stereoscope.

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 Australia Policy. 1901-72. Anti-non-European immigration policies.

Whitlam, Gough. 1916-. Australian Labour Prime Minister 1972-5. Quit Vietnam War. Dismissed by Governor General. Reduced immigration restrictions. White Australia.

Whitman, Walt. 1819-92. US freedom poet: Leaves of Grass 1855. Democratic Vistas 1871.

Wilde, Oscar. 1854-1900. Irish writer. Imprisoned for homosexuality. “Art for art’s sake”. Dorian Gray 1891. Importance of Being Earnest 1895. Ballad of Reading Gaol 1898.

William II. (Wilhelm). 1859-1941. German Emperor 1888-1918. Dismissed Bismarck. Sought world leadership. Precipitated WWI. Abdicated. -“I rule by God’s grace”.

William III. 1650-1702. Prince of Orange 1672-. King of England with Mary II 1689-. Ended War of Grand Alliance 1697. Defeated James II at Battle of Boyne, reconquered Ireland 1690. Declared freedom of worship.

William IV. 1765-1837. King of Great Britain and Ireland, 1830-. “Sailor King”. Reform Bill 1832.

William, Willis. 1883-1963. US poet. Pictures from Brueghel. In the American Grain.

Wittelsbach, Otto von. Otto I of Greece.

Wood, Grant. 1892-1942. US midwest regionalist painter. American Gothic 1930.

Woolf, Virginia. 1882-1941. English psychological stream of consciousness writer. Captured transience and subtlety of thought. Bloomsbury Group. Mrs Dalloway 1925. To the Lighthouse 1927. Waves 1931.

Woolley, Leonard. 1880-1960. English archeologist. Excavated Ur. Found evidence of Great Flood.

Worms, Concordat of. 1122. Agreement between Pope Calixtus and Emperor Henry V to share power to appoint bishops and abbots. Spiritualia, regalia vested separately.

Worms, Synod. 1076. Called by Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV to depose Pope Gregory VII. 1122 Concordat of Worms.

WPA. Works Progress Administration. 1935-43. Employed 8.5M on public works in US during Depression.

Wren, Christopher. 1632-1723. English architect. Anglicized Classicism based on French and Dutch influence. Rebuilt 50 churches after 1666 London fire. St. Paul’s 1675. Greenwich Observatory 1675. Associated with craftsmanship of Tijou, Gibbons, Thornhill, Cibber. Sheldonian Theatre 1662. Trinity College Library 1676.

Xenocrates. 394-314BC. Greek philosopher. Head of Plato’s Academy.

23 more results ...