Vitalism. Bergson’s theory of evolution. Life force differentiates living things from others. Aristotle.

Vitry, Philippe de. 1291-1361. French composer, codified rules of composition. Ars Nova 1320.

Vivaldi, Antonio. 1678-1741. Venetian violinist, Baroque composer. Standard concerto pattern; more than 500 concertos. Four Seasons 1725.

Volstead Act. 1919-33. Enforced US Prohibition.

Voltaire, François. 1694-1778. French philosopher vs tyranny, bigotry, cruelty. Challenged accepted beliefs. Quotations became revolutionary slogans. Lettres Philosophique 1734. Candide 1758.

Voodoo. Carribean religious cult of ritual and magic. Synthesis of African rites and French Roman Catholicism.

Voroshilov, Kliment. 1881-1969. Soviet Head of State 1953-60.

Vries, Hugo de. 1848-1935. Dutch botanist. Heredity and mutation. Mutation Theory 1910.

Vuillard, Édouard. 1868-1940. French Nabis Intimist artist. Interiors. Woman Sweeping 1892.

Vulcan. Roman god of destruction, fire, weapons. = Hephaestos.

Vulgate. 405. Official Latin translation of Bible by St Jerome. First printed 1455.

Wade-Davis Bill. 1864. Strict terms for US Reconstruction vetoed by Lincoln.

Wafd. 1918-52. Egyptian nationalist party. Dissolved by Revolution.

Wales. Celts. 55BC Rome. 7C +England. 8C Divided. 9C Re-united. 11C Norman. 1284 English suzerainty. 1536 Union with England.

Wallace, Alfred. 1823-1913. British naturalist. Theory of natural selection, 1838, independent of Darwin.

Wallace, George. 1919-98. Alabama segregationist governor, presidential candidate. Shot 1972.

Warren, Earl. 1891-1974. US Chief Justice 1953-69. Decisions on segregation, accused rights. Led inquiry into John F. Kennedy assassination. Concluded Oswald acted alone.

Warring States. 481-221BC. Chinese period of many small feuding kingdoms.

Warsaw Pact. 1955-91. USSR, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, E Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania. Treaty for the combined defence of Eastern Europe under Soviet supreme command.

Warsaw Uprising. 1830-1. Czartoryski attempt to oust Russians crushed. 1944. Polish underground army defeats Germans but Soviet delay allows German reinforcements to defeat Poles, destroying potential opposition to later Soviet control.

Washington, George. 1732-99. American Revolution commander, First US President.

Washington, Treaty. 1871. Britain/US recognize Canada, regulate Great Lakes navigation.

Washington Conference. 1921-2. Naval arms limitation treaty. Four Power Pacific Treaty: US, Japan, Britain, France.

Watergate. 1972-4. US political scandal over burglary of Democratic headquarters. Cover up led to Nixon’s resignation.

Watson, John. 1878-1958. Founded Behaviourism 1914. Separated psychology from philosophy.

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