Bach, Johann Sebastian. 1685-1750. German composer of fugues and chorales. Peak of polyphonic music. Brandenburg Concerto 1721. Well Tempered Clavier. Art of Fugue 1749.

Bacon, Francis. 1561-1626. English chancellor and philosopher. First king’s counsel. Favoured inductive over deductive reasoning. Separated Science from religion. New Atlantis 1625. B. Scientific method: Novum Organum 1620. Essays 1625.

Bactria. c1500BC Aryan. 545BC Persia. 328BC Alexander. 256BC-140 Graeco-Bactria. Badakhshan. 7C Moslem. 1220 Genghis Khan. Now Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan.

Badakhshan. 255BC-1584. Kingdom in Bactria claiming direct descendance from Alexander the Great.

Baden. 1112 Margravate. 1771 Grand Duchy. 1848 Republic. 1871 German Empire. 1918 Republic. 1934 Germany.

Baekeland, Leo. 1863-1944. US: invented Bakelite 1909 (first plastic). Velox.

Bagehot, Walter. 1826-77. English social scientist/ essayist. The English Constitution 1867. Physics and Politics 1872. Lombard St. 1873.

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.

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

Bali. c1000 Java. 1596 Dutch discover. 1906 Netherlands. WWII Japan occupies. 1950 Indonesia.

Balkan League. 1912-13. Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece, and Montenegro. Balkan Wars.

Ballet. Dance form originating in 15C Italy, and codified in Louis XIV court. Refined by Russians 19C.

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.

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

Banda, Hastings. c1902-97. Autocratic Malawi President 1963-. 1971- “President for Life”.

Bandaranaike, Sirimavo. 1916-2000. Ceylon Prime Minister 1960~77. World’s first woman Prime Minister.

Bandeira, Manuel. 1886-1968. Brazilian national poet. Carnival 1919.

Bandung Conference. 1955. 29 Asian and African countries oppose colonialism, promote peace.

Bangorian Controversy. 1717. Dispute over Church of England’s powers.

Bank of England. 1694. Scotland 1695. N. America 1781. France 1800. Ireland 1783.

Barbara, St. c200. Maiden martyr at father’s hands, who was struck by lightning. Patron St. of artillerymen.

1960 more results ...