Politian. 1454-94. First vernacular Italian poem 1475.

Polk, James. 1795-1849 US Democratic president 1845-. Oregon Question. Mexican War. “54°40' or fight”.

Pollaiuolo, Antonio del. 1431/2-98. Florentine bronze sculptor, painter. Pioneered dissection in anatomy. Hercules and Antaeus 1470s. Martyrdom of St. Sebastian 1475.

Pollock, Jackson. 1912-56. US abstract expressionist painter. Dripped paint on canvas.

Pol Pot. 1925-98. Cambodian Communist Khmer Rouge leader. Arrested 1997.

Polyanov, Peace. 1634. Poland receives Smolensk for recognizing first Romanov czar, Michael.

Polybius. c200-118BC. Greek historian. 40 vol History of Rome.

Pombal, Marquês de. 1699-1782. Portuguese. Led reconstruction after 1755 Lisbon earthquake.

Pompadour, Mme de. 1721-64. Louis XV’s intelligent, beautiful mistress. Built École Militaire. Sponsored Petit Trianon, Place de la Concorde.

Pompeii. Destroyed 79 by Vesuvius eruption. Rediscovered 1592.

Pompidou, Georges. 1911-74. French statesman, Prime Minister 1962-68, President 1969-. Fifth Republic Constitution.

Pompidou Centre. Beaubourg. 1972-7. Architects: Rogers and Piano. Paris modernistic art and activity center.

Pont d’Avignon. 12C-1680. Built after divine command to shepherd, St Bénézet.

Pont de la Concorde. Paris. Built 1787-91 from stones of Bastille so people could forever trample ruins.

Pont Neuf. 1578-1607. Oldest surviving Paris bridge.

Pont Notre-Dame. Originally the Great Bridge in Roman Paris. Rebuilt in 1413 by Normans. First numbered houses in Paris.

Ponte Vecchio. 1345. Florence. First segmented arch bridge in West.

Poole, William. 1821-94. US. First library periodical index.

Poor Law Commission. 1842. Chadwick recommends municipal clean water supply and sewage systems to prevent disease.

Poor Laws. 1597, 1601, 1834. British parishes to aid poor, establish workhouses, abolish slavery. Replaced 1930-50.

Pop Art. 1950-. Movement drawing from popular culture. Warhol. Lichtenstein.

Pope. Head of Roman Catholic Church, Bishop of Rome. Considered the infallible vicar of Christ.

Pope, Alexander. 1688-1744. English satirist, poet and philosopher: On Criticism 1711. Rape of the Lock 1712-4. Essay on Man 1732-4.

Popish Plot. 1678. Oates’ fictitious allegations of conspiracy led to persecution of Catholics.

Popov, Aleksandr. 1859-1905. Russian physicist: radio antenna.

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