Iron Age. 1200BC. Hittites begin to use iron for tools and weapons. 1000BC Europe. 600BC China.

Iron Cross. 1813. Prussian military decoration.

Iron Curtain. 1946. Churchill’s name for Russia’s increasing influence in Eastern Europe. Dining à la Russe refers to carving being done behind an iron screen.

Iron Guard. 1924-41. Romanian anti-semite fascist party.

Ironclads. 1858-60. Iron-protected wooden warships.

Iroquois League. (League of 5 Nations). 1570-. Confederation of Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca. Fought for English in American Revolution, Seven Years War.

Irrationalism. 19C. Philosophy stressing instinct over reason. Schopenhauer.

Irredentists. 1878. Italian political party with object of incorporating neighbouring regions.

Irving, Washington. 1783-1859. US writer. Rip van Winkle. Legend of Sleepy Hollow 1819. Tales of a Traveller 1824. Inventor of short story.

Isaac. Old Testament Patriarch. Abraham’s son from whom all Jews descend. Spared from sacrifice.

Isabel. 1846-1921. Brazilian princess. As regent during Pedro II absence, abolished slavery 1888. Led to fall of Brazilian Empire.

Isabella. 1292-1358. Ousted husband Edward II in favour of son, Edward III, 1327.

Isabella I. 1451-1504. Queen of Castile. Financed Columbus. United Spain by marrying Ferdinand II. Inquisition.

Isabella II. 1830-1904. Queen of Spain 1833-68. Deposed by Carlists. Salic Law.

Isabella of Bavaria. 1371-1435. French Queen consort/regent 1389-1422. Recognized British heir to French throne. Treaty of Troyes. Hundred Years War.

Isaiah. 8C BC. Hebrew prophet of the Messiah.

Isaurian. 717-802. Byzantine dynasty.

Isaurians. Bellicose peoples of Anatolia defeated by Servilius 76BC.

Isherwood, Christopher. 1904-86. English novelist/playwright. Goodbye to Berlin 1939.

Ishmael. Abraham and Hagar’s son, from whom all Arabs descend. Midianites.

Ishtar. Assyrian and Babylonian goddess of love, sex, and war. Earth Mother.

Isidore of Seville, St. 560-636. Spanish bishop, encyclopedist. Etymologiae. De Natura Rerum.

Isis. Egyptian deity of the moon, nature and fertility. Sister of Osiris.

Islam. =Muhammadism. 7C-. Monotheistic religion based on Koran. 1/6 of world’s population, especially north Africa, Middle East, SW Asia. Sunni. Shi’ite. Caliphate Empire.

Islamic Revolution. 1979. Ayatollah Khomeini led overthrow of Pahlavi in Iran.

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