Benin.1625 Abomey kingdom = Dahomey. 1892 France. 1895 French West Africa. 1959 Autonomous. 1960 Independent =Dahomey. 1975 =People’s Republic of Benin.

Bentham, Jeremy. 1748-1832. English Utilitarian philosopher, jurist. Principles of Morals and Legislation 1789. Fragment on Government 1776.“Greatest happiness for the greatest number”.

Béranger, Pierre. 1780-1857. French Republican poet and singer. Roi d’Yvetot 1813.

Berengar of Tours. c999-1088. Questioned transubstantiation 1044.

Beria, Laurenty. 1899-1953. Soviet commisar in charge of Stalin’s security police 1938-.

Berlin Blockade. 1948-9. Russia’s winter blockade is thwarted by US, British airlift of supplies.

Berlin Wall. 1961-89. Soviet troops erect. US guarantees West Berlin’s freedom.

Berlioz, Hector. 1803-1869. French Romantic composer. Grandiose themes directly from feelings.Symph. Fantastique 1830. Romeo and Juliette 1839. Treatise on Orchestration 1844. Damnation of Faust 1846.

Bernardin de St. Pierre, Jacques. 1737-1814. French writer. Propagated JJ Rousseau’s back to nature philosophy. Paul et Virginie 1788.

Bernini, Lorenzo. 1598-1680. Italian Baroque painter, sculptor, architect. Louis XIV bust. Apollo and Daphne 1616. St. Theresa 1646.

Berry, Jean, duc de. 1340-1416. Regent of France for Charles VI. Policies caused Peasants Revolt 1381-4. Patron of arts. Limburg.

Bérulle, Cardinal Pierre. 1575-1629. Founder of Oratory. ‘French’ school of spiritual thought. Congregation of priests...Lazarites. Congregationalists.

Beveridge Report. 1942. Advocated ‘cradle to grave’ social insurance in Britain.

Bhagavad-Gita. (Lord’s Song) Hindu scripture.

Bibliothèque Nationale. French National Library begun by Charles V collection now houses 20M works. 7M Books.

Bichat, Xavier. 1771-1802. French anatomist. “Life is the sum of the forces that restrict death.”

Bienvenüe, Fulgence. 1852-1936. “Père du Metro”. Engineered first Paris métro line 1898.

Big Stick Policy. Roosevelt’s foreign policy. Power as a deterrent. Mahan.

Bishops’ Wars. 1639. Scots vs Charles’ Anglicanism. 1640. Covenanters force Charles to call Long Parliament.

Blake, William. 1757-1827. English mystical poet and engraver of his own books. Marriage of Heaven and Hell 1790-3. Job 1821. Dante’s Divine Comedy 1825.

Blanc, Louis. 1811-82. French Utopian Socialist. Theory of equal wages. National Workshops. Organization du Travail 1839.

Blanqui, Louis. 1805-81. French militant socialist. Coined: “Dictatorship of the Proletariat”, “Industrial Revolution”, 1837. Unsuccessful uprising 1839. Commune leader. Secret societies.

Blenheim, Battle. 1704. Bavaria. Marlborough’s victory in War of Spanish Succession. First French defeat in 50 years, saves Vienna.

Blockade. Naval strategy preventing access to an enemy’s coast.

Blood Purge. 1934. Hitler’s murder of 74 Nazi radicals.

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