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

Merlin. Wizard of Arthurian legend.

Merovingians. 476-751. Frankish dynasty. Childeric founded; Clovis expanded empire to modern France, Germany, Belgium, N Italy. Austrasia, Neustria; 534+Burgundy. Clotaire. Carolingians.

Merrick, Joseph. 1862-90. “Elephant Man”. Severely disfigured English cripple, subject of play and film.

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.

Messerschmidt, Willy. 1898-1978. German plane designer and manufacturer, WWII.

Metaphysical Painting. 1911-20. Bizarre surreal imagery in stark landscape. De Chirico.

Metaurus, Battle. 207BC. Rome defeats Carthaginian invasion in 2nd Punic War.

Métezeau, Clement. 1581-1652. French architect. Church of St-Gervais-St-Protais 1616.

Methodism. Protestant religious movement founded by Wesley 1729. Moravian, Calvinistic evangelical.

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

Metternich, Fürst von. 1773-1859. Austrian prince, chancellor, defender of Absolutism. Quadruple Alliance vs Napoleon. Holy Alliance. Architect of Vienna Congress, 1814.

Mexican War of Independence. 1810-21. Hidalgo leads indep from Spain. Iturbide.

Meyer, Lothair. 1830-95. Periodic structure 1870, indepently. Mendeleyev.

MI5. 1909. British Security Service responsible for counterintelligence and internal security.

Michelson, Albert. 1852-1931. Polish/US physicist. With Morley, disproved existence of ether 1887. Measured speed of light.

Midas. 7C BC King of Phrygia. Everything he touched, turned to gold.

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

Middle English. English language and literature 1100-1500.

Midhat Pasha. 1822-83. Turkish Vizier. First Ottoman constitution 1876.

Midway, Battle. 1942. US navy defeats Japan. WWII turning point.

Millenary Petition. 1603. Presented by 1000 Puritan ministers to James I. Calls Hampton Court Conference.

Miller, Arthur. 1915-2005. US playwright. Death of a Salesman 1949. Crucible 1953.

Milne, A. A. 1882-1956. English children’s humourist. Winnie the Pooh 1926.

Mindon Min. 1814-78. Burmese king 1853-. Founded Mandalay. Golden age. Ceded lower Burma to British.

848 more results ...