Megalopolis. 370-222BC. Greek city destroyed by Spartan Cleomenes III.

Megarian. 4C BC. School of philosophy founded by Eucleides. Good is a single quality by many names.

Mehmed II. 1432-81. Ottoman sultan 1451~. Captured Constantinople 1453, ending Byzantine Empire. Conquered Anatolia, Greece, Aegean, most of Syria. Re-established Ottoman Empire.

Melba, Nellie. 1861-1931. Australian operatic soprano.

Memnon. Ethiopian king killed at Troy by Achilles.

Mendelssohn, Moses. 1729-86. German Jewish reform philosopher. Nathan the Wise 1779.

Mephistopheles. Faust’s devil.

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

Merleau-Ponty, Maurice. 1908-61. French philosopher blending existentialism, Marxism, phenomenology.

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.

Mesopotamia, Battle. 1914-16. WWI. British advance from Basra to Babylon.

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

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

Métis. Mixed European/native race in Canada, N US. Riel.

Meyerbeer, Giacomo. 1791-1864. German operatic composer of French opera. Les Huguenots 1836.

Micah. 8C BC. Old Testament prophet.

Michael VIII. 1224-82. Byzantine Emperor 1259-. Won Constantinople from Latins. Founded Paleologus dynasty.

Middle Ages. 395-1492. Collapse of Rome to Columbus. Rise of Church power, modern European states. Dark Ages.

Milhaud, Darius. 1892-1974. Modern French polytone composer. Creation of the World 1923. Christopher Columbus 1930. Les Six.

Mill, John Stuart. 1806-73. English Utilitarian Positivist philosopher. Social as well as political freedom is necessary. Tyranny of the majority. Associationism. Political Economy 1848. On Liberty 1859. Utilitarianism 1863. Women’s Right to Vote 1866.

Miller, Henry. 1891-1980. US autobiographical novelist. Tropic of Cancer 1934. Tropic of Capricorn 1939. Works banned in US for sexual content until 1964.

Mississippi Scheme. 1717-20. Law’s attempt to develop Louisiana. Speculation led to financial disaster.

Mithraism. 5C BC-4C. Persian worship of Mithra, sun god of wisdom. Influenced Christianity. Adopted by Romans in Britain. Bull sacrifice.

Mitterand, François. 1916-96. Socialist president of France, 1981-95. Promoted European unity.

Mnesicles. 5C BC. Greek architect of Propylae on Acropolis.

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