Nystad, Treaty. 1721. Russia/Sweden. Russia gains window on Baltic. Ends Great Northern War.

OAS. Organisation de l’Armée Secrète. 1961-9. Right-wing terrorist anti-Gaullist group founded by Salan. Failed revolt in Algeria 1961.

Oates, Titus. 1649-1705. English Anglican priest. Invented Popish Plot. 35 Catholics executed.

OAU. Organization of African Unity. 1963. Formed to improve living standards and eliminate colonialism.

Oberon. King of the Fairies, from Huon de Bordeaux poem.

Objectivism. 20C philosophy of Ayn Rand. Egoism. One should act in self-interest. Altruism is a weakness.

Obote, Milton. 1925-. Ugandan Prime Minister/Pres 1962-71. Overthrown by Amin. Pres 1980-.

Obregón, Alvaro. 1880-1928. Reforming Mexican President 1920-24. Peace after civil war.

O’Brien, William. 1803-64. Irish revolutionary. 1848 Insurrection. Led Young Ireland. Banished.

Observatory, Paris. 1667-72. Claude Perrault. Dimensions of the solar system 1672, meridians of longitude. Sets Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).

Occam, William. c1280-1349. English Franciscan Nominalist philosopher. “Science is about things, philosophy about terms and concepts”. Occam’s razor: “It is vain to do with more, what can be done with fewer” (Science or Logic). Incompatibility of knowledge and faith, 1332. Opposed Aquinas Aristotelian realism. “Universal ideas exist only in the mind”. Influenced Reformation.

Occasionalism. Will is free. God arranges that what man wills, happens. Determinism. Free Will.

Occitan. Langue d’Oc. Romance language of southern France. Dialects include Provençale, the language of the troubadours. Oil.

Occultism. Belief in supernatural. Astrology, alchemy, spiritualism, theosophy.

Ockeghem, Johannes. c1430-96. Innovative Franco-Flemish polyphonist composer. Masses, motets.

O’Connor, Rory. c1116-98. Last high king of Ireland 1166-75. Submitted to Henry II in Treaty of Windsor.

October Revolution. 1917. Bolsheviks, Lenin and Trotsky overthrow Kerensky’s Socialist provisional government in Russian Revolution.

Octobrists. 1905-17. Russian party seeking enactment of October Manifesto.

Oder-Neisse Line. 1945- Polish-German border established by Potsdam Conference.

Odets, Clifford. 1906-63. US playwright of social protest. Waiting for Lefty 1935. Golden Boy 1937.

Odin. King of Scandinavian gods who holds court in Valhalla.

Odoacer. c435-93. German who deposed Romulus Augustus 476. Assassinated by Theodoric.

Offa. 755-796. King of Mercia 757-. Founded St. Alban’s abbey. Dee Dyke vs Welsh 785. Introduced coinage. Treaty with Charlemagne. Began unification of England.

Og. Giant biblical king of Bashan.

Ogadai. 1185-1241. Mongol ruler 1229-41. Conquered China to Poland, Hungary.

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