Mahavira, Vardhamana. 599-527BC. Indian founder of Jainism: -“All life is sacred”.

Mahdi. Shi’ite messiah who will appear at end of the world. Several claimants have appeared.

Majorian. -461. W Roman Emperor 457-. Tax reform. Murdered.

Malawi. c13C Chewa. 19C Yao, Ngoni. 1859 Explored by Livingstone. 1893 British protectorate. 1907 =Nyasaland. 1953 +Northern Rhodesia. 1964 Independent =Malawi. Zambia. Banda.

Malus, Étienne. 1775-1812. French physician. Discovered polarized light 1808.

Manet, Édouard. 1832-83. French Pre-Impressionist painter. Olympia 1863. Déjeuner sur l’herbe 1863, triggered Impressionism. Folies-Bergères 1882. Monet.

Manfred. 1232-66. Sicilian king 1258-. Opposed papal authority.

Marat, Jean-Paul. 1743-1793. Bloodthirsty French revolutionary, murdered by Charlotte Corday.

Marcel, Étienne. 1316-58. French draper who led unsuccessful Paris revolt vs Dauphin Charles V, 1355-8, while John II captured by English. Assassinated.

Marcellus, Marcus. c268-208BC. Roman consul. Conquered Syracuse 212BC. “The Sword of Rome”.

Marmont, Auguste. 1774-1852. French Marshal. Surrendered Paris 1814 causing Napoleon to abdicate.

Marryat, Frederick. 1792-1848. English adventure writer of energetic seafaring stories. Midshipman Easy 1836.

Marshall, James. 1810-85. Discovered gold 1848. California Gold Rush 1849.

Mastaba. First Dynasty Egyptian tombs. Inspired pyramids.

Mathura. Indian city sacred to Hindu as birthplace of Krsna.

Matisse, Henri. 1869-1954. French painter in Fauvist style. Coined “cubism” 1908. Red Studio 1911.

Matterhorn. 14,691 ft. First climbed in 1865 by Whymper.

Maxim, HiramPercy. 1869-1936. US inventor. Powered tricycle 1895. Columbia automobile. Gun silencer. ARRL 1914.

Mecca. Holy city of Islam. Muhammad’s birthplace. Captured by Muhammad 630. Ka’bah.

Medway, Battle. 1667. Dutch destroy British fleet. Breda Treaty.

Mehmed I. -1421. Ottoman sultan. Restored by Tamerlane; re-united Ottoman territory.

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

Melilla. Spanish city on Moroccan coast conquered 1497. Berbers.

Mendel, Gregor. 1822-84. Austrian abbot, botanist. Studied heredity. Genetics 1865.

Menendez de Aviles, Pedro. 1519-74. Spanish colonist. Massacred Huguenots in Florida 1565.

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