Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Mahmud of Ghazna

(Encyclopedia)Mahmud of Ghazna mämo͞odˈ, gŭzˈna [key], 971?–1030, Afghan emperor and conqueror. He defeated (c.999) his elder brother to gain control of Khorasan (in Iran) and of Afghanistan. In his raids ag...

Maine, Gulf of

(Encyclopedia)Maine, Gulf of, part of the Atlantic Ocean, between SE Maine and SW Nova Scotia, at the entrance of the Bay of Fundy. The area is noted for its scenery and fishing. Overfishing and pollution led to th...

Maine, University of

(Encyclopedia)Maine, University of, main campus at Orono; coeducational; land-grant and state supported; chartered 1865 as Maine State College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts, opened 1868, renamed 1897. There ...

Malacca, Strait of

(Encyclopedia)Malacca, Strait of məläkˈə [key], c.500 mi (800 km) long and from c.30 to 200 mi (50–320 km) wide, between Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula. Linking the Indian Ocean with the South China Sea, it ...

Malplaquet, battle of

(Encyclopedia)Malplaquet, battle of mälpläkāˈ [key], a major engagement in the War of the Spanish Succession (see Spanish Succession, War of the). On Sept. 11, 1709, the combined forces of England and the Holy ...

Malta, Knights of

(Encyclopedia)Malta, Knights of: see Knights Hospitalers. ...

Madrid, Treaty of

(Encyclopedia)Madrid, Treaty of, 1526: see Italian Wars. ...

Magellan, Strait of

(Encyclopedia)Magellan, Strait of, c.330 mi (530 km) long and 21⁄2 to 15 mi (4–24 km) wide, separating South America from Tierra del Fuego and other islands south of the continent. Except for a few miles at its...

Luria, Roger of

(Encyclopedia)Luria, Roger of: see Roger of Loria. ...

Massachusetts, University of

(Encyclopedia)Massachusetts, University of, main campus at Amherst; land-grant and state supported; coeducational; chartered 1863, opened 1867 as Massachusetts Agricultural College. It was called Massachusetts Stat...