Betti, Ugo. 1892-1953. Italian dramatist. La Padrona 1927.

Bevan, Aneurin. 1897-1960. British Socialist MP 1929-60. Architect of National Health Service, 1948.

Beveridge Report. 1942. Advocated ‘cradle to grave’ social insurance in Britain.

Bevin, Ernest. 1881-1951. British labour leader, statesman. TUC. Initiated Colombo Plan.

Bhadracarya-pranidhana. Buddhist vows of good conduct.

Bhagavad-Gita. (Lord’s Song) Hindu scripture.

Bhagavatas. 2C BC. Hindu sect.

Bhascara. 1114-85. Hindu mathematician/astrologer. First user of decimal system.

Bhutan. Himalayan kingdom. 9C Tibet invaders settle. c1630 Independent. 17,18C Tibet invades. 1865 Part British 1907 Monarchy. 1910 British Protectorate. 1949 Indian Protectorate.

Bhutto, Ali. 1928-79. Pakistani leader 70-77. Deposed by Zia.

Biafra. 1967-70. Ojukwu-led Ibos try to secede from Nigeria resulting in famine.

Bible. Hebrew and Christian sacred scriptures translated from Hebrew and Aramaic. 3C BC Greek translation. 1382 Wycliffe, Rogers, English. 1522-34 Luther, German. 1611 King James version. Vulgate by St. Jerome. Apocrypha.

Bibliothèque Nationale. French National Library begun by Charles V collection now houses 20M works. 7M Books.

Bichat, Xavier. 1771-1802. French anatomist. “Life is the sum of the forces that restrict death.”

Biddle, John. 1615-62. Founded Unitarianism. 12 Arguments 1644.

Biedermeier. 1815-35. German bourgeois kitsch style of sentimental art and utilitarian furniture. Circular pedestal table.

Bienvenüe, Fulgence. 1852-1936. “Père du Metro”. Engineered first Paris métro line 1898.

Bierce, Ambrose. 1842-1914. Satirical US writer. Cobwebs 1874. From an Empty Skull.

Big Bang. 15 billion BCE. Scientifically accepted origin of Universe.

Big Stick Policy. Roosevelt’s foreign policy. Power as a deterrent. Mahan.

Billettes. Brothers of Charity, 14C religious order succeeded by Carmelites.

Billy the Kid. 1859-81. US frontier outlaw.

Binet, Alfred. 1857-1911. French. Invented intelligence test 1905. Projective testing 1903.

Biological Weapons Convention. 1972. Britain, US, USSR agreement to ban germ warfare.

Birch, John. -1945. US missionary killed in China. Cold War hero of John Birch Society.

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