Bloomer, Amelia. 1818-94. US temperance, women’s rights activist. Wore bloomers.

Blow, John. 1649-1708. Westminster organist. First English opera, Venus and Adonis 1685.

Blue Laws. US laws that control Sunday activities. 1781 originals on blue paper.

Bolivar, Simon. 1783-1830. “Liberator of South America”. 1812- Led rebels in Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia, Peru.

Bonus Army. 1932. US WWI vets march to demand accelerated bonus payment. Dispersed by force.

Borden, Robert. 1854-1937. Canadian Cons Prime Minister 1911-20. Union Gov’t. Imperial War Cabinet. Women suffrage.

Boreas. Greek personification of the north wind.

Bourne, Randolph. 1886-1918. US pacifist essayist. Untimely Papers 1919.

Bradlaugh, Charles. 1833-91. Radical atheist MP, 1880-. Oath Act, permitting affirmation for swearing in.

Brahmanism. 700-500BC. Philosophical period of Hinduism. Upanishads. Vedism.

Brecht, Bertolt. 1898-1956. German experimental dramatist: Threepenny Opera 1928. Mother Courage.

Britten, Benjamin. 1913-76. Influential English composer of operas and symphonies. Paul Bunyan 1941. Billy Budd 1951. War Requiem 1962. Death in Venice 1973.

Brock, Isaac. 1769-1812. British military commander. Upper Canada hero in War of 1812.

Brown, John. 1800-59. US slavery abolitionist. Harper’s Ferry. Hung.

Brunelleschi, Filippo. 1377-1446. Florentine architect. Dome of Florence Cathedral 1420. Perspective 1415.

Bruno, Giordano. 1548-1600. Italian Copernican philosopher opposed to dogma. Burned as heretic.

Buffons, War of. 1752. Paris intellectuals debate Italian vs French opera. Rousseau.

Bull, John. Personification of England popularized by Arbuthnot 1712.

Bundesrat. Upper house of Swiss, German, Austria Parliaments.

Bunsen, Robert. 1811-99. German chemist, perfected bunsen burner. Discovered Caesium, Rubidium 1860. Spectroscopy 1859. Kirchhoff.

Burkina Faso. (Upper Volta). 11C Bobo. 14C Mossi(E)/Gourma(C)...Kingdoms of Yatanga, Ouagadouga. 1895(E)/97(C) French protectorate. 1904 French Sudan. 1919 French colony. 1932-47 Divided Ivory Coast/Niger/French Sudan. 1948 French Territory. 1960 Independent. 1984 =Burkina Faso.

Bushido. 12C- Samurai warrior code. Personal honour, loyalty.

Cabiri. Phrygian, later Greek fertility cult gods: Demeter, Hermes, Persephone.

Caccini, Giulio. 1550-1618. Italian composer. Monodic music, early operas.

Cade’s Rebellion. 1450. English small property holders revolt. War of Roses.

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