MarriedCart

Seleucia Pieria

2005-11-17T21:55:00.000-08:00

Greek Seleukeia, in ancient Syria, port of Antioch and frontier fortress on the Cilician border (near modern Samandag, Turkey), 4 miles (6 km) north of the mouth of the Orontes River. With Antioch, Apamea, and Laodicea it formed the Syrian tetrapolis. The town occupied the rocky slopes of Musa Dagi, and its natural fortifications and good harbour soon made it the port for the important city of Antioch.

Dee, John

2005-10-15T17:55:00.000-07:00

Dee entered St. John's College, Cambridge, in 1542, where he earned a bachelor's degree (1545) and a master's degree (1548); he also was made a fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, on its founding in 1546. Dee furthered his scientific studies on the Continent with a short visit

Port Colborne

2005-07-28T15:40:00.000-07:00

City, regional municipality of Niagara, southeastern Ontario, Canada. It lies a few miles south of Welland on the north shore of Lake Erie at the upper entrance of the Welland Ship Canal and opposite Humberstone Lock; at 1,381 feet (421 m) long it is one of the world's largest lift locks. The first settlement of 1832 was known as Gravelly Bay; it was later renamed in honour of Sir John Colborne,

Andalusia

2005-07-26T21:30:00.000-07:00

City, seat (1841) of Covington county, southern Alabama, U.S., near the Conecuh River, about 85 miles (135 km) south of Montgomery. It originated in 1841 as New Site, when the county seat of Montezuma relocated to higher ground because of floods, at a point along the Three Notch Trail (used by Andrew Jackson on his way to New Orleans in 1813). Renamed Andalusia in 1844, probably for the Spanish province, it

Arctic Ocean

2005-07-24T10:20:00.000-07:00

The Arctic Ocean and its marginal seas (the Chukchi, East Siberian, Laptev, Kara, Barents, White, Greenland, and Beaufort; some oceanographers also include the Bering and Norwegian Seas) are the least-known basins and bodies of water in the world ocean owing to their remoteness, hostile weather, and

Halang Language

2005-07-07T00:25:00.000-07:00

Also called Haleng, Alang, Koyong, or Selong, language spoken chiefly in the central highlands of south-central Vietnam near Kon Tum. The number of speakers in Vietnam is estimated at some 10,000. Halang is a member of the North Bahnaric subbranch of the Mon-Khmer language family, which is a part of the Austroasiatic stock. Other North Bahnaric languages spoken in the region are Sedang, Rengao, Kayong, Monom, and Jeh.

Ahmad Shah Durrani

2005-07-05T17:10:00.000-07:00

Founder of the state of Afghanistan and ruler of an empire that extended from the Amu Darya to the Indian Ocean and from Khorasan into Kashmir, the Punjab, and Sind. Head of the central government, with full control of all departments of state in domestic and foreign affairs, both civil and military, the shah was assisted by a prime minister

Shaft Coupling

2005-06-17T05:10:00.000-07:00

A common type of rigid coupling

Dbus-gtsang

2005-06-13T23:55:00.000-07:00

One of three regions into which the area of Central Asia inhabited by Tibetans is traditionally divided. Dbus and Gtsang were provinces in the days of the early kings of central Tibet, c. 7th century. The area of Dbus encompassed the Skyid-chu valley system in which Lhasa is located, as well as the Yar-klungs and 'Phyong-rgyas valleys on the south side of the Brahmaputra

Margaret Of Angoulême

2005-06-02T19:15:00.000-07:00

Daughter of Charles de Valois-Orléans, comte d'Angoulême, and Louise of Savoy, she became the most influential woman in France, with the exception of her mother,

Italic Languages, South Picene

2005-05-31T14:00:00.000-07:00

Approximately two dozen short inscriptions from the southern part of ancient Picenum (most of them found near Ascoli Piceno and Teramo) preserve extremely early remains (6th and 5th centuries BC) of the Italic language now known as South Picene (see Figure 2). Formerly referred to as Old Sabellian or Central Adriatic, South Picene

Basil

2005-05-17T05:05:00.000-07:00

Albanian in origin, Basil acceded to the throne of Moldavia in the spring of 1634. He intrigued throughout his reign to acquire the Walachian throne as well, and in 1637 and 1639 led unsuccessful expeditions against the ruling prince

Manchu

2005-05-15T02:35:00.000-07:00

Also called Man, people who lived for many centuries in Manchuria and adjacent areas and who in the 17th century conquered China and ruled that country for more than 250 years. The term Manchu dates from the 16th century, but it is certain that the Manchu are descended from a group of peoples collectively called the Tungus (the Even and Evenk [Evenki] are also descended from that group). The Manchu,

Augustine, Saint

2005-03-15T01:48:00.000-08:00

None of Augustine's other works has the currency or readership of his two masterpieces. Of greatest interest are the following:

Atwater, Wilbur Olin

2005-03-14T19:25:00.000-08:00

Upon completing his undergraduate work at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn., Atwater continued his studies at Yale University, where his Ph.D. thesis discussed for the first time how chemical techniques could be applied to food. After further study in Germany,

Capuchin

2005-03-12T08:14:00.000-08:00

Member of �Order of Friars Minor Capuchin (O.F.M.Cap.)� an autonomous branch of the Franciscan order of religious men, begun as a reform movement in 1525 by Matteo da Bascio, who wanted to return to a literal observance of the rule of St. Francis of Assisi and to introduce elements of the solitary life of hermits. Matteo was concerned that the habit, or religious uniform, worn by the Franciscans was not one that St. Francis had worn;

Gaelic Football

2005-03-10T14:18:00.000-08:00

In the modern game, sides are limited

United States, Bank Of The

2005-03-09T22:15:00.000-08:00

Central bank chartered in 1791 by the U.S. Congress at the urging of Alexander Hamilton and over the objections of Thomas Jefferson. Extended debate over its constitutionality contributed significantly to the evolution of pro- and anti-bank factions into the first American political parties - respectively, the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans. Antagonism

Quimper

2005-03-08T01:51:00.000-08:00

Breton �Kemper� town, capital of Finist�re d�partement, Bretagne region, France, and a port at the estuarine confluence of the Odet and Steir rivers. Once the ancient capital of the countship Cornouaille, it is associated with the legendary (5th century) king Gradlon, who came from Cornwall in Britain. The countship was united with the duchy of Brittany in the 11th century; but the town suffered

Schmidt, Arno

2005-03-07T16:50:00.000-08:00

In full �Arno Otto Schmidt� novelist, translator, and critic, whose experimental prose established him as the preeminent Modernist of 20th-century German literature. With roots in both German Romanticism and Expressionism, he attempted to develop modern prose forms that correspond more closely to the workings of the conscious and subconscious mind

Sculpture, Western, Late Gothic

2005-03-06T22:21:00.000-08:00

In the years around 1400, when International Gothic flourished, Italian and northern artists had achieved some sort of rapprochement. Under the renewed influence of antique art, Italy drew away again, and it was not until the 16th century that the north showed any real disposition to follow suit in the imitation of Classical models. While painting and architecture of the

Jackson

2005-03-05T19:38:00.000-08:00

City, seat (1821) of Madison county, western Tennessee, U.S. It lies about 80 miles (130 km) northeast of Memphis. The area was settled about 1819 as a port on the Forked Deer River and developed as a cotton depot and railroad junction. First called Alexandria, the community was renamed in 1822 to honour General (later President) Andrew Jackson. It was used as a supply point by both Confederate and

Animal, History of classification

2005-03-04T15:13:00.000-08:00

Except perhaps for the possession of collagen, the criteria used above to distinguish animals from other forms of life are not absolute. The first catalogs of animal diversity were based on overall form and similarity. Aristotle and other early biologists regarded all organisms as part of a great chain, divisions of which were more or less arbitrary. The 18th-century

Belgium, History Of

2005-03-03T08:53:00.000-08:00

After the Burgundian regime in the Low Countries (1363 - 1477), the southern as well as the northern provinces had dynastic links with the Austrian Habsburgs, then with Spain and the Austrian Habsburgs together. Later, as a consequence of revolt in

Chellean Industry

2005-03-02T07:34:00.000-08:00

An early Stone Age industry characterized by crudely worked hand axes. The implements from Chelles in France that gave the industry its name are now grouped with the Acheulian industry. The term Chellean, in the sense of earliest hand-ax culture, has been replaced by Abbevillian industry.

Middleton, Arthur

2005-03-01T20:56:00.000-08:00

After completing his education in England, Middleton returned to South Carolina in 1763 and was elected to the colonial legislature. In 1775 - 76 he was a member of the Council

Agnihotri, Shiv Narayan

2005-02-28T16:30:00.000-08:00

At the age of 16 Agnihotri entered the government-sponsored Thompson Engineering College in Roorkee and in 1873 took a position as a drawing master in the Government School of Lahore. He and his wife became active members of the Brahmo Samaj (literally, �Society

Yacht

2005-02-27T14:27:00.000-08:00

Early sailing yachts followed the lines of such naval craft as brigantines, schooners, and cutters from the 17th century until the second half of the 19th century. The design of large yachts was first greatly affected by the success of America, which was designed by George Steers for a syndicate headed by John C. Stevens and was the boat for which the America's Cup (q.v.) was named

Priesthood

2005-02-26T19:20:00.000-08:00

The primary role of the priest is that of the ritual expert, the one who has a special and sometimes secret knowledge of the techniques of worship, including incantations, prayers, sacrificial acts, songs, and other acts that are believed to bridge the separation between the divine or sacred and the profane realms. The priest gains such knowledge through the institution

Qafsah

2005-02-25T19:43:00.000-08:00

Also spelled �Gafsa, �Latin �Capsa, � town, west-central Tunisia. The ancient name of the locality is applied to the Mesolithic Capsian industry (here dated about 6250 BC) of the earliest inhabitants. The original Numidian town was destroyed (106 BC) by the Romans; it was rebuilt later by Trajan and was then successively a centre of Byzantine, Arab, Berber, and Ottoman rulers. Qafsah is a noted irrigated fruit-growing oasis

Epistemology, David Hume

2005-02-24T22:52:00.000-08:00

Although Berkeley rejected the Lockean notions of primary and secondary qualities and matter, he retained Locke's beliefs in the existence of mind, substance, and cause as a power or secret force. David Hume (1711 - 76), in addition to rejecting all the Lockean notions that Berkeley did, also rejected what Berkeley had retained. His justification for this step was empiricist

Sachs, (ferdinand Gustav) Julius Von

2005-02-23T20:49:00.000-08:00

Sachs became an assistant to the physiologist Jan Evangelista Purkinje at the University of Prague, where he received the Ph.D. in 1856. In 1859 he was appointed

Panofsky, Erwin

2005-02-22T23:34:00.000-08:00

Panofsky studied at the University of Freiburg in Breisgau and was a professor at the University of Hamburg from 1926 to 1933. He first went to the United States in 1931 as visiting

World War I, Vittorio Veneto

2005-02-21T17:58:00.000-08:00

After the stabilization of the Italian front on the Piave River at the end of 1917, the Austrians made no further move until the following June. They then tried not only to force the Tonale Pass and enter northeastern Lombardy but also to make two converging thrusts into central Venetia, the one southeastward from the Trentino, the other southwestward across the lower

G�nc�

2005-02-20T15:57:00.000-08:00

Also spelled �G�nj�, �Gandzha, �Gjandza�, or �Gyandzha�, formerly (1935 - 89) �Kirovabad�, or (1804 - 1918) �Yelizavetpol� city, western Azerbaijan. It lies along the G�nc� River. The town was founded sometime in the 5th or 6th century, about 4 miles (6.5 km) east of the modern city. That town was destroyed by earthquake in 1139 and rebuilt on the present site. G�nc� became an important centre of trade, but in 1231 it was again leveled, this time by the Mongols. Captured in 1606 by the Persians, it became the centre of the

Annelid, Ecology

2005-02-18T18:41:00.000-08:00

There are no marine habitats containing specific polychaetes as there are for mollusks and echinoderms. Many species, such as Neanthes arenaceodentata and Capitella capitata, cosmopolitan in distribution, are found throughout the world. Aquatic oligochaete species are widespread in suitable environments; terrestrial forms are less widely distributed,

Glycogen Storage Disease

2005-02-17T08:15:00.000-08:00

In the liver group, type O is set apart as

Amontons, Guillaume

2005-02-16T14:56:00.000-08:00

Amontons is often credited with having discovered the laws of friction (1699), though in fact his work dealt solely with static friction - i.e., the friction of objects at rest. It was only after the English physicist Sir Isaac

Arguedas, Jos� Mar�

2005-02-15T00:31:00.000-08:00

Arguedas's father was an itinerant judge. His mother, from a locally prominent family, died when he was only three years old. He was raised in part by Quechua Indians and learned to speak Quechua

Argentina, The Gran Chaco

2005-02-14T19:34:00.000-08:00

The harsh physical conditions of the Gran

Yakima River

2005-02-13T18:35:00.000-08:00

River, south-central Washington, U.S., rising in the Cascade Range, near Snoqualmie Pass. It flows southeastward about 200 miles (320 km) past Ellensburg and Yakima to join the Columbia River near Kennewick in Benton county. The Yakima and its tributaries irrigate about 460,000 acres (190,000 hectares) in the river valley. The Keechelus Dam, near the river's source, is a major unit of the U.S. Bureau

Fairbanks

2005-02-12T02:27:00.000-08:00

City, east central Alaska, U.S., on the Chena River (tributary of the Tanana). Founded in 1902 during a gold strike, it was named for Sen. (later Vice Pres.) Charles Warren Fairbanks. It lies on the 800-mi (1,300-km) north - south trans-Alaskan oil pipeline midway from the Prudhoe Bay fields to the Valdez terminal. As the northern terminus of the Alaska and Richardson highways and Alaska Railroad

Earth

2005-02-11T04:55:00.000-08:00

Scientists have applied the full battery of modern instrumentation to studying the Earth in ways that have not yet been possible for the other planets; thus,

Qayen

2005-02-10T02:39:00.000-08:00

The modern town is surrounded by

Nitrous Acid

2005-02-09T16:30:00.000-08:00

Nitrous acid decomposes into nitric oxide,

Andong

2005-02-08T21:41:00.000-08:00

City, North Kyongsang do (province), east-central South Korea. It lies 215 miles (345 km) from the mouth of the Naktong River, at the terminus of its navigable section, near a multipurpose dam. The city has been in existence since the Three Kingdoms period (beginning c. 57 BC) under various names, and since the Koryo period (935 - 1392) it has been known by its present name. Until the end of the Choson (Yi) dynasty

Monchique Mountains

2005-02-07T00:14:00.000-08:00

Portuguese �Serra De Monchique, � low mountain range forming the frontier between Beja and Faro districts, southern Portugal, near Cape Saint Vincent, the southwestern extremity of the Iberian Peninsula. A dissected igneous rock (syenite) massif, its highest point is La Foia (2,960 ft [902 m]). The range is famous for its wild and generally varied plant life, as well as for its spas with medicinal waters (Caldas de

Sard And Sardonyx

2005-02-06T03:49:00.000-08:00

Translucent, light- to dark-brown varieties of the silica mineral chalcedony, historically two of the most widely used semiprecious stones. Sard and its close relative carnelian have been used in engraved jewelry for centuries. Sard (from Sardis, the ancient capital of Lydia) was originally called sardion, which included both sard and carnelian until the Middle

Girdle Tie

2005-02-05T06:02:00.000-08:00

Also called �blood of Isis� in Egyptian religion, protective amulet formed like a knot and made of gold, carnelian, or red glazed ware. Most samples of the girdle tie have been found tied around the necks of mummies; the amulets were intended to protect the dead from all that was harmful in the afterlife.

Zeiss, Carl

2005-02-04T07:16:00.000-08:00

In 1846 Zeiss opened a workshop in Jena for producing microscopes and other optical instruments. Realizing that improvements in optical instruments depended on advances in optical theory, he engaged as research

Norfolk, John Howard, 1st Duke Of, Earl Marshal, Lord Howard

2005-02-03T08:14:00.000-08:00

John Howard was the son of Sir Robert Howard by his wife, Margaret, daughter of Thomas Mowbray, the 1st Duke of Norfolk of that family. In 1455 John Howard was sent to Parliament as member for Norfolk; in 1461 he was knighted; and in 1470, although he appears to have been

Moshav

2005-02-02T23:29:00.000-08:00

Plural �Moshavim, � in Israel, a type of cooperative agricultural settlement. The moshav, which is generally based on the principle of private ownership of land, avoidance of hired labour, and communal marketing, represents an intermediate stage between privately owned settlements and the complete communal living of the kibbutz. Moshavim are built on land belonging to the Jewish

Jackson Hole National Monument

2005-02-01T02:43:00.000-08:00

Fertile mountain valley and wildlife reserve mostly in Grand Teton National Park (q.v.), northwestern Wyoming, U.S.

Heredity, DNA repair

2005-01-31T02:22:00.000-08:00

A variety of agents in the cell's environment, both chemical and physical, can damage DNA. Organisms have developed a variety of mechanisms for repairing copying errors produced by damaged DNA, usually by enzymatically excising them. The enzyme DNA polymerase then catalyzes the replacement of the excised segment with the correct nucleotides, using the undamaged

By, John

2005-01-30T02:14:00.000-08:00

By, commissioned as second lieutenant in the Royal Engineers in 1799, worked in Canada (1802 - 11) on the fortification of Quebec and was charged with the building of a canal at Les C�dres on the St. Lawrence.

Hermes

2005-01-29T04:33:00.000-08:00

Greek god, son of Zeus and Maia; often identified with the Roman Mercury (q.v.) and with Casmilus or Cadmilus, one of the Cabeiri (q.v.). His name is probably derived from herma (see herm), the Greek word for a heap of stones, such as was used in the country to indicate boundaries or as a landmark. The earliest centre of his cult was probably Arcadia, where Mt. Cyllene was reputed to be

Trichur

2005-01-28T09:35:00.000-08:00

Town, administrative headquarters of Trichur district, central Kerala state, southwestern India. The town is located 12 mi (19 km) inland on an extensive lagoon system. A commercial and cultural centre, it is considered to be the oldest town on the west coast of India; its name means �small sacred place.� Trichur is built around a hillock topped by the Vatakkunatha temple, the focus

Percy, Sir Henry

2005-01-27T13:38:00.000-08:00

The eldest son of Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland, he was nicknamed Hotspur by his Scottish enemies in recognition of the diligence

Ibn Durayd

2005-01-26T17:58:00.000-08:00

Ibn Durayd traced his descent to an Arab tribe of Oman, and in 871, to avoid the Zanj (black African) slave rebellion, during which Basra was sacked, he moved to Oman. He stayed there more than a decade. After

Arabesque

2005-01-25T17:26:00.000-08:00

In literature, a contrived intricate pattern of verbal expression, so called by analogy with a decorative style in which flower, fruit, and sometimes animal outlines appear in elaborate patterns of interlaced lines. That these designs can sometimes suggest fantastic creatures may have given rise to another sense of the term, denoting a tale of wonder or of the supernatural.

Agni

2005-01-24T19:09:00.000-08:00

(Sanskrit: �Fire�), fire-god of the Hindus, second only to Indra in the Vedic mythology of ancient India. He is equally the fire of the sun, of lightning, and of the hearth that men light for purposes of worship. As the divine personification of the fire of sacrifice, he is the mouth of the gods, the carrier of the oblation, and the messenger between the human and the divine orders.

Denham, Sir James Steuart, 4th Baronet

2005-01-23T11:13:00.000-08:00

Denham was educated at the University of Edinburgh (1724 - 25). In the course of continental travels following his qualification as a lawyer (1735), he became embroiled in the Jacobite cause. His involvement in the 1745 rebellion of the Stuart pretender to the throne

Bruce Peninsula

2005-01-22T14:45:00.000-08:00

Also called �Saugeen Peninsula, � extension of the Niagara Escarpment, southeastern Ontario, Canada. The peninsula juts northwestward for 60 miles (100 km) into Lake Huron, separating that lake from Georgian Bay. After rising abruptly from its rugged east coast to heights of 200 - 500 feet (60 - 150 m) above the lake, the peninsula slopes gradually to its western coast. Although it is poor agriculturally, it is a popular vacation

Hal�vy, (jacques-fran�ois-) Fromental(-�lie)

2005-01-21T04:01:00.000-08:00

Hal�vy studied at the Paris Conservatoire from the age of 10 and won the Prix de Rome in 1819 for his cantata Herminie. His first opera performed was L'Artisan (1827), but it was not until Le Dilettante d'Avignon

Annob�

2005-01-20T00:27:00.000-08:00

Also called �Pagalu, � volcanic island in the South Atlantic Ocean near the Equator; it is part of Equatorial Guinea. Located about 350 miles (565 km) southwest of continental Equatorial Guinea, it occupies an area of 7 square miles (17 square km) and rises to an elevation of 2,200 feet (671 m). Fishing and lumbering activities are centred in San Antonio, the chief settlement. Pop. (1987 est.) 2,360.

Oberhausen

2005-01-19T02:48:00.000-08:00

City, North Rhine-Westphalia Land (state), western Germany. It is situated on the Rhine-Herne-Kanal, within the densely developed Ruhr industrial belt, and it adjoins Essen (east), M�lheim (south), and Duisberg (southwest). Oberhausen is an important rail junction, and the city also has good autobahn connections with The Netherlands. It is the centre of a network of lines radiating

Kyanite

2005-01-18T15:20:00.000-08:00

Also spelled �Cyanite, �also called �Disthene, � silicate mineral that is formed during the regional metamorphism of clay-rich sediments. It is an indicator of deep burial of a terrain rather than high stress, as formerly thought. Kyanite occurs as elongated blades principally in gneisses and schists, and it is often accompanied by garnet, quartz, and mica. Its colour ranges from gray-green to black or blue, with blue

Nardi, Jacopo

2005-01-17T13:45:00.000-08:00

Nardi was born to a family that was long hostile to the Medici. He followed a military career until the expulsion of the Medici in 1494; he then served in several posts as a magistrate and became one of the principal republican

Fore-edge Painting

2005-01-16T02:02:00.000-08:00

Technique of painting the edges of the leaves, or folios, of a book, employed in the European Middle Ages. Manuscript books with gold-tooled bindings often had the edges of their pages gilded with burnished gold. They were also frequently goffered with heated tools and were occasionally coloured. From 1650 onward a number of London binders practiced a new decorative method

Dendrobium

2005-01-15T05:31:00.000-08:00

Genus of as many as 1,500 species of orchids that grow on other plants and are native to tropical and subtropical Asia, many Pacific islands, and Australia. Some species have small, pale flowers; others have large, showy ones. The flowers may be borne singly, in groups, or on arching spikes. The lateral sepals of all Dendrobium flowers are joined at the base, forming

Yamantaka

2005-01-14T05:02:00.000-08:00

In northern Buddhism, one of the eight fierce protective deities. See dharmapala.

Argenteuil

2005-01-13T09:30:00.000-08:00

Town, Val-d'Oise d�partement, �le-de-France r�gion, France. It lies along the north bank of the Seine River, northwest of Paris. The town's name comes from silver (argent) deposits exploited there by the Gauls. Argenteuil grew up around a convent that was founded there in the 7th century and of which Charlemagne's daughter Th�orade may have been an early abbess. H�lo�se, of the

Berakah

2005-01-12T18:55:00.000-08:00

Also spelled �Berakha, or Berachah (Hebrew: �blessing�), �plural �Berakoth, Berakot, Berachoth, or Berachot, � in Judaism, a benediction (expression of praise or thanks directed to God) that is recited at specific points of the synagogue liturgy, during private prayer, or on other occasions (e.g., before performing a commandment or for being spared from harm in the face of danger). Most berakoth begin with the words Barukh Attah Adonai Eloheinu Melekh ha-Olam (�Blessed art Thou, O Lord

Polenta

2005-01-11T03:01:00.000-08:00

A porridge or mush usually made of ground corn (maize) cooked in salted water. Cheese and butter or oil are often added. Polenta can be eaten hot or cold as a porridge; or it can be cooled until firm, cut into shapes, and then baked, toasted, panfried, or deep-fried. It is a traditional food of northern Italy, especially the Piedmont region, and of Corsica, where chestnut flour is

Gruffydd, William John

2005-01-10T06:37:00.000-08:00

Educated at the University of Oxford, Gruffydd was appointed professor of Celtic at University College in Cardiff, Wales, a position

Huxley, T.h.

2005-01-09T17:41:00.000-08:00

Huxley's controversial positions in the 1860s and '70s won the support of an increasing number of his contemporaries, while his research established him as one of the leading scientists of his era. As a scientific popularizer he was without peer, and he was an energetic organizer and political infighter. These qualities gave Huxley the levers necessary to elevate the position

United Kingdom, Flag Of The

2005-01-08T04:38:00.000-08:00

The earliest form of the flag of Great Britain, developed in 1606 and used during the reigns of James I (1603 - 25) and Charles I (1625 - 49), displayed the red cross of England superimposed on the white cross of Scotland, with the blue field of the latter. Because in heraldry a red on blue is not considered permissible, the red cross had to be bordered with white, its own correct field. During the Commonwealth

Cancer And Capricorn, Tropics Of

2005-01-07T15:29:00.000-08:00

Latitudes approximately 23�27� N and 23�27� S of the terrestrial Equator, respectively. These latitudes correspond to the northernmost and southernmost declinations of the Sun's ecliptic (q.v.) to the celestial equator. At the summer solstice (in the Northern Hemisphere), around June 21, the Sun attains its greatest declination north and is directly over the Tropic of Cancer. At that

Great Dismal Swamp

2005-01-06T04:21:00.000-08:00

Also called �Dismal Swamp� marshy region on the Coastal Plain of southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina, U.S., between Norfolk, Virginia, and Elizabeth City, North Carolina. It is densely forested and contains scattered natural elevations of 10 to 20 feet (3 to 6 metres) above sea level. Along the western margin the Pamlico Formation (known as the Great Dismal Swamp Terrace) rises to 25 feet

Burgess, Gelett

2005-01-05T01:12:00.000-08:00

Burgess was educated as an engineer and worked briefly for a railroad in that capacity. Between 1891 and 1894 he taught topographical drawing at the University

Babia, Mount

2005-01-04T11:13:00.000-08:00

Polish �Babia G�ra�, Slovak �Babia Hora� highest mountain (5,659 feet [1,725 m] at Diablok) peak in the Beskid Mountains, on the Slovakia-Poland border and one of the highest peaks in Poland. It is 12 miles (19 km) north-northeast of N�mestovo, Slovakia, and 12 miles (19 km) south-southwest of Sucha Beskidzka, Pol. The site of a 7-square-mile (17-square-kilometre) Polish national park, the mountain attracts thousands of visitors to the resort facilities

France, History Of, Later Capetians

2005-01-03T23:33:00.000-08:00

Louis IX was succeeded by his son, Philip III (ruled 1270 - 85); his grandson, Philip IV the Fair (ruled 1285 - 1314); and three great-grandsons, Louis X (ruled 1314 - 16), Philip V (ruled 1316 - 22), and Charles IV (ruled 1322 - 28). The greatest of these last Capetian reigns was that of Philip IV. Worldly and ambitious, yet pious and intelligent, he was less accommodating than his forebears and more devoted to his power than to his reputation.

Chemical Bonding

2005-01-02T21:02:00.000-08:00

Any of the interactions that account for the association of atoms into molecules, ions, crystals, and other stable species that make up the familiar substances of the everyday world. When atoms approach one another, their nuclei and electrons interact and tend to distribute themselves in space in such a way that the total energy is lower than it would be in any alternative

Francia, Jos� Gaspar Rodr�guez De

2005-01-01T10:29:00.000-08:00

Francia was trained in theology but turned to the practice of law. In 1811 he became secretary to the junta that had overthrown Spanish rule and in 1813 served

Kourouma, Ahmadou

2004-12-31T07:12:00.000-08:00

Kourouma spent his early years in Guinea and attended secondary school in Bamako, Mali, until he was expelled and was drafted into the army by the French. He was sent to Indochina and served in Saigon. Later he continued

Anne

2004-12-30T22:23:00.000-08:00

Queen of Great Britain from 1702 to 1714. The last Stuart monarch, she wished to rule independently, but her intellectual limitations and chronic ill health caused her to rely heavily on her ministers, who directed England's efforts against France and Spain in the War of the Spanish Succession (1701 - 14). The bitter rivalries between Whigs and Tories

France, History Of, Social classes

2004-12-29T18:56:00.000-08:00

The collapse of Roman imperial power and the influx of Germans did not destroy the old Roman senatorial and landed aristocracy; the 6th-century kings called on its members to serve in the administration. A sort of military aristocracy had existed among the Germans: at the time of their settlement within the empire, its members were given tax revenues and lands confiscated

Earth Sciences

2004-12-28T10:24:00.000-08:00

Canada Company

2004-12-27T20:36:00.000-08:00

Organization instrumental in colonizing much of the western part of Upper Canada (now Ontario). Many residents of Upper Canada had incurred losses during the War of 1812 and subsequently claimed an indemnity from the British government. The latter agreed to pay a portion of the claims if the government of Upper Canada provided the remainder. At the suggestion of John

Biblical Literature, Historical criticism

2004-12-26T19:38:00.000-08:00

Historical criticism places the documents in their historical setting and promotes their interpretation in the light of their contemporary environment. This is necessary for their understanding, whether they are historical in character or belong to another literary genre. If they are historical in character it is important to establish how faithfully they

Porphyry

2004-12-25T18:51:00.000-08:00

Original name �Malchus � Neoplatonist Greek philosopher, important both as an editor and as a biographer of the philosopher Plotinus and for his commentary on Aristotle's Categories, which set the stage for medieval developments of logic and the problem of universals. Boethius' Latin translation of the introduction (Isagoge) became

Arabia, History Of, Omani expansion

2004-12-23T17:58:00.000-08:00

In Oman events took an independent course. The Ya'rubid dynasty - founded about 1624 when a member of the Ya'rub tribe was elected imam - expelled the Portuguese from Muscat and set to harrying Portuguese possessions on the Indian coast. Embarking on expansion overseas - to Mombasa in 1698, then to Pemba, Zanzibar, and Kilwa - the Omanis became the supreme power on the coastal regions

Earth Sciences, Properties and structure of the atmosphere

2004-12-22T09:28:00.000-08:00

Less than a year after the space age began with the launching of the Soviet Sputnik I in 1957, the U.S. satellite Explorer I was sent into orbit with a Geiger counter for measuring the intensity of cosmic radiation at different levels above the ground. At altitudes around 1,000 kilometres this instrument ceased to function due to saturation by charged particles. This and subsequent

Peru-chile Trench

2004-12-21T05:03:00.000-08:00

The Peru-Chile Trench marks the subduction of the Nazca Plate under the South American Plate

Hoover, Herbert

2004-12-20T18:21:00.000-08:00

Hoover and his wife - the former Lou Henry (Lou Hoover), also a Stanford-trained geologist - moved first to Palo Alto, California, and then to New York City, where they took up residence at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. For the next 30 years, Hoover was closely identified with the most conservative elements in the Republican Party, condemning what he regarded as the radicalism of the New Deal and opposing Roosevelt's attempts to take a more active role against German and Japanese aggression. He believed fascism lay at the root of government programs like the New Deal and argued so in The Challenge to Liberty (1934) and the eight-volume Addresses upon the American Road (1936 - 61), as well as in the speeches Against the Proposed New Deal (1932, see original text) and The New Deal and European Collectivism (1936, see original text). An ardent anticommunist and foe of international crusades, he opposed American entry into World War II (until the attack on Pearl Harbor) and denounced American involvement in the Korean and Vietnam wars. His last major activity was heading the Hoover Commission, under Presidents Harry Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower, which aimed at streamlining the federal bureaucracy. The research-oriented Hoover Institution on War, Revolution, and Peace at Stanford University - founded in 1919 as the Hoover War Collection, a library on World War I - is named in his honour.

Mitchell, John Thomas Whitehead

2004-12-19T03:19:00.000-08:00

At an early age, Mitchell joined the Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers and was appointed its secretary in 1857. He shaped the policy of the Co-operative Wholesale Society, established in 1863, and was its chairman from 1874 until his death. Mitchell emphasized

Fang

2004-12-18T22:31:00.000-08:00

The Fang speak languages of the Bantu subgroup of the Niger-Congo language family. They can be divided into three

Fang

2004-12-17T02:19:00.000-08:00

Formed at the urging of Britain and the United States, the Central Treaty Organization was intended to counter the threat of Soviet

Religion, Seventh-day Adventist Church.

2004-12-16T16:41:00.000-08:00

Celebrating 100 years of Adventism in southern Asia, the Annual Council of the world church met in Bangalore, India, in 1993. The church at first grew very slowly there, but in recent years India had become a fruitful field for growth, and membership in 1993 approached 200,000. The church in India was also moving toward financial strength; the centenary year saw the first conference, Mizoram,

Adderley, Cannonball

2004-12-15T17:12:00.000-08:00

Byname of �Julian Edwin Adderley � one of the most prominent and popular American jazz musicians of the 1950s and '60s whose exuberant music was firmly in the bop school but which also employed the melodic sense of traditional jazz. A multi-instrumentalist, Adderley is best-known for his work on alto saxophone and for his recordings with Miles Davis and with