Verdun, Treaty of. 843. Split Carolingian Empire.

Vespucci, Amerigo. 1454-1512. Florentine explorer who concluded America was not Asia. Name “America”.

Vestal Virgins. Chaste Roman guardians of Temple to Vesta, goddess of the hearth.

Vienna, Treaty. 1725. Spain, Austria pledge to aid Stuart restoration in England. 1738 Ends War of Polish Succession. 1809 =Schönbrunn Treaty. 1864 Denmark cedes Schleswig- Holstein to Prussia. 1866 Seven Weeks War. Austria cedes Venice to Italy.

Vienne, Council. 1311. Abolished Templars.

Virchow, Rudolf. 1821-1902. German pathologist, anthropologist. Applied microscope to medical research. Cellular pathology 1858.

Vladimir I, St. 956-1015. First Christian Russian ruler. Ordered people to convert.

Volsci. -338BC. Italian peoples conquered by Rome.

Vonnegut, Kurt, Jr. 1922-. US satirical novelist, social critic. Player Piano 1952. Slaughterhouse Five 1969.

Vosges, Place de. 1605-12. Paris’ oldest square.

Wagner, Richard. 1813-83. German Romantic opera composer/librettist. Leitmotif. Unified drama and music in long and complex operas. Tannhäuser 1845. Lohengrin 1850. Nibelung Ring 1853-76. Tristan and Isolde 1857-9. Parsifal 1882.

Wallenberg, Raoul. 1912-47?. Swedish diplomat. Saved thousands of Jews in WWII Budapest. Jailed by Soviets. Holocaust.

Walton, Izaak. 1593-1683. English author. Compleat Angler 1653.

Webster, Noah. 1758-1843. US lexicographer. Simplified American spelling. Speller 1783. Dictionary 1828.

Weimar Republic. 1919-33. Post WWI Germany. Hyperinflation, unemployment, instability. Rise of Nazism.

Weismann, August. 1834-1914. German. Germ-plasm theory of heredity.

Westminster Conference. 1866-7. Planned independence of Canada under British North America Act.

WFTU. Communist World Federation of Trade Unions. Formed 1945 from IFTU. 1949 Non-Communist ICFTU split off. 2002 vs globalization, privatization.

Whipple, Abraham. 1733-1819. American Revolutionary. Captured 11 British ships 1779.

White Plains, Battle. 1776. Washington retreats before British advance.

Whittington, Richard. 1358-1423. London Lord Mayor. Legend of merchant selling his cat for fortune to rat- plagued Moroccan ruler, he marries merchant’s daughter, becomes Lord Mayor.

Wilder, Thornton. 1897-1975. US playwright. Bridge of San Luis Rey 1927. Our Town 1938.

Wilkes, Charles. 1798-1877. US Commander, Antarctic explorer. Caused Trent Affair.

Williams, Tennesee. 1911-83. US playwright. Streetcar Named Desire 1947. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof 1954.

Wilson, Edmund. 1895-1972. US essayist, critic. Triple Thinkers 1938. Wound and the Bow 1941.

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