Menelaus. King of Sparta. Husband of Helen of Troy.

Menes. c3100BC. Egyptian king. United Upper and Lower Egypt.

Menshikov, Aleksandr. c1672-1729. Ruled Russia for Catherine I.

Mercantilism. 16-18C. Economic policy opposed to Adam Smith’s. Regulation of industry and trade. Large armies. Wealth of nation is its gold.

Mercia. 7C-877. Anglo-Saxon kingdom in central England. Conquered by Danes, Wessex.

Meredith, George. 1828-1909. English manners novelist. Intellectual, witty and poetic. Ordeal 1859. Egoist 1879. Dianna of the Crossways 1885.

Merezhkovsky, Dmitri. 1865-1941. Russian historical novelist. Christ and Antichrist 1896-1905.

Merovingians. 476-751. Frankish dynasty. Childeric founded; Clovis expanded empire to modern France, Germany, Belgium, N Italy. Austrasia, Neustria; 534+Burgundy. Clotaire. Carolingians.

Merrick, Joseph. 1862-90. “Elephant Man”. Severely disfigured English cripple, subject of play and film.

Merritt, William. 1793-1862. Upper Canada trade promoter. Welland Canal 1824-9.

Mersen, Treaty. 870. Divided Lotharingia. Charles II and Louis the German establish French/German frontier.

Mesopotamia. 5000BC. Tigris-Euphrates river plain where civilization began. 550BC Persia. 331BC Alexander. 115 Rome. 637 Moslem. 13C Mongol. 1534 Ottoman. Babylon. Akkad. Ur. Iraq.

Messerschmidt, Willy. 1898-1978. German plane designer and manufacturer, WWII.

Metaphysical Painting. 1911-20. Bizarre surreal imagery in stark landscape. De Chirico.

Metastasio, Pietro. 1698-1782. Italian librettist for Gluck, Handel, Haydn, Mozart.

Metéora. Built 12C-1458. Greece. Monasteries perched on 1000’ pinnacles and crags.

Methuen Treaty. 1703-1836. Reduced duty on port wine to England, textiles to Portugal. Hindered Portuguese industrial development.

MI5. 1909. British Security Service responsible for counterintelligence and internal security.

MI6. 1912. British Secret Intelligence Service. Overseas intelligence and strategic services. Continuation of 16C Secret Service.

Michelin, André. 1853-1931. Founded guide book 1900. Brother of Édouard.

Middle English. English language and literature 1100-1500.

Middle Kingdom. 2040-1786BC. Golden age of art and commerce in Egypt.

Mies van der Rohe, Ludwig. 1886-1969. German/US Bauhaus architect. Glass and steel. Glass Skyscraper 1921. -“less is more”.

Milan, Decree. 1807. Napoleon Continental System edict.

Miltriades. c540-489BC. Victorious commander at Marathon.

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