Violencia. 1948-62. Spain under Franco. 1946-64. Colombian repression. 200,000 dead.

Vishnu. Hindu god. Preserver of world and moral order.

Vladimir I, St. 956-1015. First Christian Russian ruler. Ordered people to convert.

Walesa, Lech. 1943-. Polish Solidarity leader instrumental in forcing decline of Communist rule. President 1990-96.

Walker, George. 1618-90. Hero of siege of Londonderry, 1688.

Warbeck, Perkin. 1474-99. Flemish. Posed as Richard, Duke of York, pretender to the English throne. Executed.

Warsaw Pact. 1955-91. USSR, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, E Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania. Treaty for the combined defence of Eastern Europe under Soviet supreme command.

Warsaw Uprising. 1830-1. Czartoryski attempt to oust Russians crushed. 1944. Polish underground army defeats Germans but Soviet delay allows German reinforcements to defeat Poles, destroying potential opposition to later Soviet control.

Washington, George. 1732-99. American Revolution commander, First US President.

Webster-Ashburton, Treaty. 1842. Britain, US settle Eastern US-Canada border, suppress slave trade.

Wells, Henry. 1805-78. US founder of express company, 1848. American Express 1850. Wells Fargo 1852.

Wenceslaus, St. 907-29. Patron saint of Czechs. Murdered by brother Boleslav I.

Wesley, John. 1703-91. English founder of Methodism 1729. Direct preaching, often outdoors, to reach the uneducated working class. Sunday schools.

West Indies Associated States. 1967 Association of self-governing former Britishcolonies under British suzerainty.

West Indies Federation. Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserat, St Christopher-Nevis-Anguila, St Lucia, St Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago.

Westminster Conference. 1866-7. Planned independence of Canada under British North America Act.

Weyden, Rogier van der. c1400-64. Flemish religious painter. Adoration of Child 1462.

WFTU. Communist World Federation of Trade Unions. Formed 1945 from IFTU. 1949 Non-Communist ICFTU split off. 2002 vs globalization, privatization.

Whitefield, George. 1714-70. English evangelist, founder of Calvinistic Methodist Church. Stimulated 18C religious revival.

Widerkind. -807. Saxon leader vs Charlemagne 778.

Wiener, Norbert. 1894-1964. US founder of science of cybernetics 1948.

Wilder, Thornton. 1897-1975. US playwright. Bridge of San Luis Rey 1927. Our Town 1938.

Wilderness Road. 1790-1840. Settlers’ route from Virginia to Kentucky.

Wilkes, Charles. 1798-1877. US Commander, Antarctic explorer. Caused Trent Affair.

William I. The Conqueror. c1027-87. Norman conquest of England, 1066. Defeated Harold II at Hastings. Ordered Domesday Survey 1085. Built Tower of London 1086. Imported feudal system.

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