Weber, Carl von. 1786-1826. German Romantic opera composer. Oberon 1826.

Weill, Kurt. 1900-50. German surrealist satirical opera composer. Socio-political operas of great influence on future composers. ThreePenny Opera 1928 with Brecht. Happy End 1929.

Wells, Henry. 1805-78. US founder of express company, 1848. American Express 1850. Wells Fargo 1852.

Western European Union. 1948. Britain, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg. 1954 +Italy, Germany. 50 year treaty. NATO. European Defense Community.

Westminster, Statute of. 1275,85,90. First reference to Great Council of England as Parliament. Reformed civil and criminal law. Legal protection for poor. 1931. British affirmation of autonomous dominion of British Empire countries. Established British Commonwealth.

WFTU. Communist World Federation of Trade Unions. Formed 1945 from IFTU. 1949 Non-Communist ICFTU split off. 2002 vs globalization, privatization.

Whittington, Richard. 1358-1423. London Lord Mayor. Legend of merchant selling his cat for fortune to rat- plagued Moroccan ruler, he marries merchant’s daughter, becomes Lord Mayor.

Wilkes, Charles. 1798-1877. US Commander, Antarctic explorer. Caused Trent Affair.

World War II. 1939-45. Allies-Britain, France, US(1941-), Russia(1941-) vs Axis-Italy, Germany, Japan, Russia(-1941). Caused by German Totalitarian expansionism resulting from WWI reparations and fear of Communism. 55M dead. 35M wounded. 30M refugees. Cost $US 1500B. Led to United Nations, Soviet power, State of Israel, atomic weapons.

Xanthos, Sieges. Lycians defend against: 546BC Persians. 43BC Romans. Residents commit mass suicide both times. Asia Minor.

Xian Incident. 1936. Chiang Kai-shek captured and forced to unite with Communists to fight Japanese.

Yamashita Tomoyuki. 1885-1946. Japanese commander in Philippines. Conquered Singapore, Bataan March. Executed.

Yazoo Land Fraud. 1795. Georgia sells Mississippi to 4 companies for $500K. Legislators all shareholders. Rescinded as unconstitutional 1796.

Yemen. ~10CBC Minaean, Saba’, Qataban, Himyarite Kingdoms. 1C Jews settle. 4C Christians settle. 525 Abyssinia. 575 Persia. 7C Moslem. 9C ’Alid Zaydi dynasty. 1173 Ayyubid. c1229 Rasulid. 1517 Ottoman. 1962 Yemen Arab Republic (North Yemen). 1990 Merged with c100BC Himyarite. 1229 Rasulis. 1635 Zaydi. 1735 Divided South: 1802 British protection. 1839 British East India Company. 1937 Aden British Protectorate. 1963 Federation of South Arabia. 1967 People’s Republic of Yemen. 1735 North: 1872 Ottoman. 1920 Tribal. 1962 Yemen Arab Republic 1990 merged=Yemen.

Young, Edward. 1683-1765. English poet, playwright. Complaint 1742-5.

Zambia. 1851 Livingstone explores. 1890 British South Africa Company =Northern Rhodesia. 1953 +Nyasaland. 1964 Independent Zambia.

Zeno of Citium. c335-263BC. Greek founder of Stoicism. Early anarchist: “Compulsion perverts the nature of man”.

Zenta, Battle. 1697. Austria defeats Turks, becomes greatest power in Europe.

Zhdanov, Andrei. 1896-1948. Russian Politburo member. Created Cominform. Restricted Soviet cultural activities.

Zinoviev, Grigori. 1883-1936. Russian triumvir with Stalin, Kamenev 1919-26. Executed in Purge. COMINTERN chairman 1919-.

Zinoviev Letter. 1924. From COMINTERN to London advising worker revolution. Labour defeated.

Zoar. 1817-98. Protestant commune in Ohio.