Poe, Edgar Allan. 1809-49. US poet and horror story writer: Tales of the Grotesque 1840. Murders in the Rue Morgue 1841. The Raven 1845.

Politburo. 1917~. Soviet governing body, arm of Communist Party. Abolished by Stalin 1952-66.

Politian. 1454-94. First vernacular Italian poem 1475.

Potsdam Agreement. 1945. Truman, Stalin, Attlee agree to draw up peace treaties, reduce German industrialization, restore democracy in Europe after WWII. Outlawed Nazism. Divided Germany.

Pound, Ezra. 1885-1972. US poet/translator of Oriental and Provençale poetry. Pisan Cantos. Pro-Fascism led to incarceration in an asylum 1946-58.

Prairial, Law of 22. 1794. France allowed only acquital or death penalty in trials. Terror.

Puccini, Giacomo. 1858-1924. Popular Italian naturalist opera composer: La Boheme 1896. Tosca 1900. Madame Butterfly 1904.

Purge. 1936-8. Stalin’s trials to eliminate political rivals with fabricated charges. 3 million dead. Executions, forced labour, internal exile.

Pythagoras. c582-500BC. Greek philosopher: numbers are key to understanding the universe. Founded first school of higher learning at Crotona, Italy.

Quasimodo, Salvatore. 1901-68. Italian humanist Hermetic poet: La Vita non e sogno. Oboe Somerso 1932.

Quimby, Phineas P. 1802-66. US mental healer by suggestion. Mary Baker Eddy was a patient. Father of New Thought movement.

Rachmaninov, Sergei. 1873-1943. Russian/US pianist, composer. Romantic nostalgic works of great virtuosity. Prelude 1892.

Rákosi, Mátyás. 1892-1971. Stalinist Hungarian leader 1945-56. Fled before 1956 uprising.

Rakovsky, Khristian. 1873-?. Russian Communist leader. Opposed Stalin. Imprisoned 1938.

Ramuz, Charles. 1878-1947. Swiss novelist: Terror on the Mountain 1925. Beauty on Earth 1927. Soldier’s Tale.

Randolph, Peyton. 1721-75. American Revolutionary, first president of Continental Congress 1774.

Rapallo Treaty. 1920. Italy,Yugoslavia establish free city of Rijeka, settle borders. 1922 Normalized relations of Germany, USSR. Cancelled war indemnities.

Raphaël. 1483-1520. Italian High Renaissance classical painter, sculptor, architect. Vatican frescoes 1508-11. Madonnas 1505-7. Sistine Madonna 1513. Julius II.

Ravenna. 402 Western Roman Empire capital. 476 Ostrogothic capital of Italy. 553 Byzantine. 751 Lombard. 754 Franks. 1278 Papal States. 1441 Venice. 1509 Papal States. 1859 Sardinia. 1861 Italy.

Red Brigade. 1970-84. Italian left-wing terrorist group. Moro.

Redi, Francesco. 1626-97. Italian naturalist. Maggots from fly eggs, not spontaneous generation, 1668.

Renaissance. 13-16C Rebirth of the arts, under classical influence. Humanism. Spread from Italy. Art. Architecture. Music.

Renaissance Architecture. Italy 15C-. England 1558-1702. Intellectual search for harmony with Roman and mathematical proportions. Michelangelo. Bramante. Brunelleschi. Manetti.

Reni, Guido. 1575-1642. Italian Baroque painter. Aurora and the Hours 1613.

Respighi, Ottorino. 1879-1936. Italian composer. The Pines of Rome 1924. Used recorded sound as part of composition.

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