Plombières Agreement. 1858. Napoleon III agrees to support Cavour (Piedmont) vs Austria in return for Savoy and Nice.

Plotinus. 205-270. Greek philosopher. His Neoplatonism influenced Islam, Christianity. Quest for Good through intelligence. “Creation is fall from God. Evil is the nature of man. Good is freedom from senses.”

Pobedonostev, Konstantin. 1827-1907. Russian. professor, tutor to Alexander III, Nicholas II. Pro-autocracy. “Parliaments are the great lie of our time.”

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.

Pogrom. Attack on minority, usually Jews, sanctioned by government. 1881~1906 Russia. 1261 London. Poland, Germany during Hitler regime.

Pointilism. 1880. Style of dotted art invented by Seurat. Neo-Impressionism.

Poitiers, Battle. 732. Charles Martel halts invasion, saving Europe from Moslem rule. 1356. Edward the Black Prince defeats and captures John II. Brétigny Treaty.

Pole, Reginald. 1500-58. Archbishop of Canterbury. Opposed Reformation.

Polish Uprising. 1863. January Insurrection.

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

Pompadour, Mme de. 1721-64. Louis XV’s intelligent, beautiful mistress. Built École Militaire. Sponsored Petit Trianon, Place de la Concorde.

Pompidou Centre. Beaubourg. 1972-7. Architects: Rogers and Piano. Paris modernistic art and activity center.

Pont Neuf. 1578-1607. Oldest surviving Paris bridge.

Pony Express. 1860-61. Missouri-California mail delivery. Cody.

Pop Art. 1950-. Movement drawing from popular culture. Warhol. Lichtenstein.

Pope. Head of Roman Catholic Church, Bishop of Rome. Considered the infallible vicar of Christ.

Popol Vuh. 16C manuscript on Mayan culture.

Popper, Karl. 1902-94. Austrian/British philosopher. Objective knowledge. All knowledge grows from conjecture and refutation. Social advance made one step at a time.

Porphyry. c233-305. Greek Neoplatonic philosopher. Adversus Christianos burned. Tree of Porphyry.

Port Arthur. Chinese port. 1894 Japan. 1895 China (Shimonoseki Treaty). 1898 Russia. 1904 Japan. 1945 USSR/China. 1955 China.

Porte St-Martin. Paris. 1674. Commemorates the capture of Besançon.

Porter, David. 1780-1843. US. Captured first British warship of 1812 war.

Portsmouth, Treaty. 1905. Russia recognizes Japan in Korea, returning Manchuria to China.

Positivism. Knowledge based on senses alone. Personal knowledge. Natural laws lead to social engineering to secure a happy society. Comte. Mill. Spencer. Logical Positivism.

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.

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