Solomon. King of Israel c973-933BC. First Temple at Jerusalem. Biblical writings. Known for wisdom.

Solzhenitsyn, Aleksandr. 1918-2008. Russian novelist. Expelled 1974. Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich 1962. Gulag Archipelago 1973.

Somalia. 1960 Independent union of British Somaliland + Italian Somaliland.

Somerset. 2nd duke. c1406-1455. English general. Lost English territory in France. Quarrel with Duke of York led to War of Roses.

Somme, Battle of the. WWI. 1916. Allied victory with 1M casualties, minor gain. First use of tank. 1918. German victory.

Sonderbund. 1845-7. League of Catholic Swiss cantons defeated in civil war.

Song-tsen Gam-po. 7C. First known king of Tibet.

Songhai. 15-16C. West African trading empire.

Sonnino, Sidney. 1847-1922. Italian diplomat. Encouraged Italy into WWI. Treaty of London.

Sophists. 5-4C BC. Wandering Greek philosophers who taught rhetoric and logic for a fee. Protagoras.

Sophocles. c495-406BC. Greek tragic poet. Introduced third actor to tragedy. Antigone 442. Oedipus Rex 427.

Soranus. 1-2C. Greek gynecologist. Described contraception. Dominated medicine 1500 years.

Sorel, Agnès. 1422-50. First “officially recognized” mistress of French king.

Sorel, George. 1847-1922. French advocate of revolutionary syndicalism. Reflection on Violence 1908 justified violence and general strikes. Influenced Mussolini.

Soto, Jesus. 20C Venezuelan Op/Kinetic artist. Vibration 1965.

Soufflot, Germain. 1713-80. Protégé of Marigny. Architect of the Panthéon c1757-90.

Soul. Immaterial essence of man. Recognized by most cultures, but in varying forms.

Soulouque, Faustin. 1782-1867. Former slave, Haitian president 1847-, Emperor 1849-59.

Sousa, Martin de. 1500-64. First Portuguese colony in Brazil 1532.

South Africa. 1910 Britain unites possessions: Cape of Good Hope + Natal + Orange Free State + Transvaal = Union of South Africa. Constitution included white supremacy. 1920 +German South-West Africa by mandate. 1948 Apartheid. 1961 = Republic of South Africa; left Commonwealth. 1990 -Namibia 1994 ANC gains power.

South Sea Bubble. 1711-20. England sold trade monopolies to reduce National Debt. Their resale at speculative prices led to financial ruin for thousands. George I implicated. Walpole.

Sovereign. 1503-1917. English coin worth 22s6d, later 10s, 11s, £1.

Soviet. Basic governing body of USSR. Legislative +executive functions from local to national.

Soweto. 1976 Violent riots in Black South Africa township over compulsory Afrikaans in schools. 236-600 dead.

Spaak, Paul. 1899-1972. Belgian Prime Minister. First President of UN General assembly. EEC, Benelux, NATO.

857 more results ...