(Encyclopedia) ConstantinopleConstantinoplekŏnˌstănˌtĭnōˈpəl [key], former capital of the Byzantine Empire and of the Ottoman Empire, since 1930 officially called İstanbul (for location and…
(Encyclopedia) FatimidFatimidfătˈĭmĭd [key] or FatimiteFatimid–ĭmīt [key], dynasty claiming to hold the caliphate on the basis of descent from Fatima, a daughter of Muhammad the Prophet. In doctrine…
(Encyclopedia) Nasser, Gamal AbdalNasser, Gamal Abdalgəmälˈ ăbˈdəl näˈsər [key], 1918–70, Egyptian army officer and political leader, first president of the republic of Egypt (1956–70). A…
(Encyclopedia) Palmerston, Henry John Temple, 3d Viscount, 1784–1865, British statesman. His viscountcy, to which he succeeded in 1802, was in the Irish peerage and therefore did not prevent him from…
(Encyclopedia) UmayyadUmayyad&oomacr;mäˈyäd [key], the first Islamic dynasty (661–750). Their reign witnessed the return to leadership roles of the pre-Islamic Arab elite, and the rejuvenation of…
(Encyclopedia) AbbasidAbbasidəbăˈsĭd, ăˈbəsĭd [key] or AbbasideAbbaside–sīd, –sĭd [key], Arab family descended from Abbas, the uncle of Muhammad. The Abbasids held the caliphate from 749 to 1258, but…
(Encyclopedia) Rafsanjani, Hashemi (Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani)Rafsanjani, Hashemiälēˈ äkˈbär häshˈəmē räfˌsänjänˈē [key], 1934–2017, Iranian religious and political leader, president of Iran (1989…
U.S. Department of State Background Note Index: People History Government and Political Conditions Economy Foreign Relations U.S.-Saudi Arabian Relations PEOPLESaudi Arabia's 2007 population…
Here are the key news events of the month organized into three categories: World News, U.S. News, and Business, Society, and Science News. World Sunni Block…
Here are the key news events of the month organized into three categories: World News, U.S. News, and Business, Society, and Science News. World Israel Releases…
