Baedeker, Karl. 1801-59. German guidebook publisher 1846-.

Baer, Karl. 1792-1876. Estonian/German naturalist: founded science of embryology. Discovered ovum 1827.

Baha’ism. 1863-. Founded by Baha (1817-92), disciple of Bab. Religion advocating world peace, through unification of mankind.

Bahamas. Arawak. 1492 Columbus. 1646 English colonize. 1782-3 Spain. 1973 Independent.

Bahrain. 1521 Portugal. 1602 Persia. 1783 Khalifa dynasty. 1861 British protectorate. 1971 Independent.

Baïf, Jean Antoine de. 1532-89. French Pléiade poet. New metrical forms. Founded Academy of Music and Poetry 1571, in Paris.

Bain, Alexander. 1818-1903. Scottish pragmatist philosopher, psychologist. Logic 1870.

Baker, Benjamin. 1840-1907. English engineer: London Underground 1869. Forth Bridge 1882. Aswan Dam.

Baker, Herbert. 1862-1946. English architect: Pretoria government buildings; New Delhi.

Balaklava, Battle. 1854. Crimean War. Indecisive British victory at high cost. Charge of Light Brigade.

Balboa, Vasco de. 1475-1519. Spanish. Crossed Panama to Pacific 1513. Beheaded.

Balder. Scandinavian god of peace, felled by Hoder’s mistletoe arrow.

Balearic Is. 654BC Phoenicia. 123BC Rome. 426 Vandal. 798 Moor. 1229 Independent Christian. 1349 Aragon. 1713 Brit (Minorca). 1802 Spain.

Balfour, Arthur. 1848-1930. British Prime Minister 1902-5. Opposed Irish Home Rule. Balfour Declaration.

Balfour Declaration. 1917. British support Jewish homeland in Palestine. Endorsed 1919 by Allies. Zionism.

Balkan Entente. 1934-9. Greece, Turkey, Romania, Yugoslavia mutual defence pact.

Balkan Wars. 1912-13. Balkan League defeats Ottoman Empire. Turkish territory distributed. General dissatisfaction termed the “powder keg of Europe”.

Balkans. Inhabited c6000BC. 6C BC Illyria. 148BC Rome(Illyricum)(N). 285 Byzantine(E). 4-7C Goths, Avars, Huns, Ostrogoths, Lombards, Slavs, Bulgars, Serbs invade. 890 Bulgar Empire. 1159 Serbian empire. 1389 Ottoman. 1699 Austria(E,N)/Venice(S,W). 19C Eastern Question. Albania. Bosnia-Herzegovina. Bulgaria. Croatia. Greece. Macedonia. Montenegro. Romania. Serbia. Slovenia. Yugoslavia.

Balliol, Edward. -1363. Invaded Scotland 1332. King 1332-56. Ceded crown to ally Edward III.

Balliol, John. c1249-1315. King of Scotland 1292-6. Defeated, deposed by Edward I.

Baltard, Victor. 1805-74. French architect. First to employ metal girders: Les Halles. St-Augustine’s Church.

Baltic Entente. 1923-39. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania agreement for mutual defence vs Germany and Russia.

Baltic Wars of Liberation. 1918-20. Established independent states of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania.

Baltimore Incident. 1891. Chileans attack US seamen; pay reparations to avert war.

Balzac, Honoré de. 1799-1850. French novelist of social injustice: Comedie Humaine 1829-48.

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