Alba, Duke of. 1507-82. Tyrannical Spanish Governorof Netherlands 1567-73. Gueux.

Alba Longa. Italian birthplace of Romulus and Remus. Oldest Latin city (1152BC).

Albania. Balkans. 3-5C Visigoth, Huns invade. 6-7C Bulgars, Serbs, Slavs invade.12-15C Bulgar, Norman, Angevin, Serb, Venice contest.15C Ottoman. 1912 Independent republic. 1928 Monarchy (Zog). 1939 Italy occupies. 1945 Communist (Hoxha). 1961 Left Warsaw Pact. 1991 Democratic Constitution.

Alberti, Leon. 1404-72. Italian Renaissance Man. Artist, poet, geographer, mathematician.

Albertus Magnus, St. c1200-80. Swabian Dominican philosopher influenced Aquinas: independent observation of nature. Alchemist.

Albigenses. (Cathars). Southern French ascetic Neo-Manichean heretic Christian sect. Eliminated by 13th Crusade, 1208-1229 and Inquisition.

Albornoz, Gil de. 1310-67. Restored papal authority, ending Babylonian Captivity.

Alchemy. Magic art of Egyptian origin attempting to transmute metals, esp lead to gold. Based on belief that all metals are a pure base metal + impurities which the philosopher’s stone can remove.

Alcibiades. c450-404BC. Athenian egoist general, Peloponnesian War. Murdered.

Alcmaeonidae. 7-5C BC. Prominent Athenian family. Pericles.

Alcock, John. 1892-1919. First non-stop transatlantic flight, 1919, with Brown.

Alden, John. c1599-1687. Pilgrim father. Married Priscilla Mullens.

Aldermaston March. 1958-64. Annual ‘Ban the Bomb’ demonstration of CND.

Alembert, Jean Le Rand d’. 1717-83. French philosopher and mathematician, Encyclopaedist.

Alexander. 1876-1903. Serbian King, 1889-. Scandals, authoritarianism led to assassination.

Alexander of Hales. -1245. English Franciscan Aristotelian philosopher, theologian. Summa Theologia 1246.

Alexander the Great. 356-323BC. Macedonian king 336-. Conquered an Asian empire to Persia and India.

Alexandria. Founded 332BC by Alexander the Great. Centre of Hellenistic culture. Lighthouse one of Seven Wonders. 284BC Great Library of 700,000+ volumes. Fires 47BC, 391.

Alexis. 1629-76. Russian czar 1645-. Recognized serfdom. Northern War. Peasant Revolt 1667-71.

Alfonso X (the Wise). 1221-84. King of León and Castile. Codified laws, first history of Spain.

Alfred the Great. 849-99. Saxon King of Wessex 871-. Resisted Danes 877-79 (Edington) + 892-96. Captured London 886. First British Navy 897.

Algeria. c2000BC Berber. 12C BC Phoenicia...9C BC Carthage. 146 BC Rome. 429 Vandal. 6C Byzantine. 7C Moslem. c1500 Spain. 1518 Ottoman. 1671 Independent. 1830 France. 1962 Independent.

Ali. 4th Caliph, 656-661. Son-in-law of Muhammad. Succession led to Sunni/Shi’ite split. Moslem Civil War.

Alien Registration Act. 1940. Outlaws advocating violent overthrow of US government. Extended to include all advocates of Communism. McCarthy.

All the Talents. 1806. English government under Grenville.

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