Ireland, William. 1777-1835. English forger of Shakespeare manuscripts 1796.

Ireland Referendum. 1973. Vote in favour of Union of Northern Ireland with Britain.

Irgun Zvai Leumi. 1931-48. Jewish right-wing terrorist group in Palestine.

Irian Jaya. (Netherlands New Guinea). 1963 «Indonesia.

Iris. Greek personification of the rainbow.

Irish Rebellion. 1649. Crushed by Cromwell. 1798. Resulted in Union Act.

Irish Republican Army. IRA. 1919-. For a unified independent Ireland by terrorism (Provisional Wing) or by democratic means (Officials). Opposed Allies in WWII. Terrorism 1921-40, 1969-. Outlawed in Eire 1930, 36, 74. Sinn Fein.

Irish War. 1919-21. IRA fights for indepence. Irish Free State.

Iron Age. 1200BC. Hittites begin to use iron for tools and weapons. 1000BC Europe. 600BC China.

Iron Curtain. 1946. Churchill’s name for Russia’s increasing influence in Eastern Europe. Dining à la Russe refers to carving being done behind an iron screen.

Ironclads. 1858-60. Iron-protected wooden warships.

Iroquois League. (League of 5 Nations). 1570-. Confederation of Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca. Fought for English in American Revolution, Seven Years War.

Irredentists. 1878. Italian political party with object of incorporating neighbouring regions.

Irving, Washington. 1783-1859. US writer. Rip van Winkle. Legend of Sleepy Hollow 1819. Tales of a Traveller 1824. Inventor of short story.

Isaac. Old Testament Patriarch. Abraham’s son from whom all Jews descend. Spared from sacrifice.

Isabella. 1292-1358. Ousted husband Edward II in favour of son, Edward III, 1327.

Isabella II. 1830-1904. Queen of Spain 1833-68. Deposed by Carlists. Salic Law.

Isabella of Bavaria. 1371-1435. French Queen consort/regent 1389-1422. Recognized British heir to French throne. Treaty of Troyes. Hundred Years War.

Isaiah. 8C BC. Hebrew prophet of the Messiah.

Isherwood, Christopher. 1904-86. English novelist/playwright. Goodbye to Berlin 1939.

Ishmael. Abraham and Hagar’s son, from whom all Arabs descend. Midianites.

Ishtar. Assyrian and Babylonian goddess of love, sex, and war. Earth Mother.

Islam. =Muhammadism. 7C-. Monotheistic religion based on Koran. 1/6 of world’s population, especially north Africa, Middle East, SW Asia. Sunni. Shi’ite. Caliphate Empire.

Islamic Revolution. 1979. Ayatollah Khomeini led overthrow of Pahlavi in Iran.

Israel, Lost Tribes of. 772BC. 10 tribes exiled. Unknown fate.

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