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Medvedev, Dmitri Anatolyevich

(Encyclopedia)Medvedev, Dmitri Anatolyevich mĕdvyĕdˈyĕf [key], 1965–, Russian political leader, president of Russia (2008–12), b. Leningrad (now St. Petersburg). He earned a doctorate in law in 1990 and was...

Persian Wars

(Encyclopedia)Persian Wars, 500 b.c.–449 b.c., series of conflicts fought between Greek states and the Persian Empire. The writings of Herodotus, who was born c.484 b.c., are the great source of knowledge of the ...

Neoplatonism

(Encyclopedia)Neoplatonism nēˌōplāˈtənĭzəm [key], ancient mystical philosophy based on the doctrines of Plato. Neoplatonism was an early influence on Christian thinkers. The Christian apologists Clement...

Hay, John Milton

(Encyclopedia)Hay, John Milton, 1838–1905, American author and statesman who was an important political figure from the mid-19th cent. into the early 20th cent.; b. Salem, Ind., grad. Brown. He practiced law at S...

Demetrius Phalereus

(Encyclopedia)Demetrius Phalereus fəlērˈo͞os, fəlērˈēəs [key] [Lat.,=of Phalerum], d. c.280 b.c., Athenian orator. One of the first Peripatetics, he wrote extensively in history, rhetoric, and literary cri...

Eudocia

(Encyclopedia)Eudocia yo͞odōˈshə [key], d. 460, Roman empress of the East; daughter of an Athenian Sophist. She was selected by Pulcheria as the wife of Theodosius II, whom she married (421) after being baptize...

Thrasybulus

(Encyclopedia)Thrasybulus thrăsˌəbyo͞oˈləs [key], d. c.389 b.c., Athenian statesman. A strong supporter of the democratic and anti-Spartan party, he successfully opposed (411 b.c.) the oligarchical Four Hundr...

Duane, James

(Encyclopedia)Duane, James dwān, dəwānˈ [key], 1733–97, political figure in the American Revolution, b. New York City. Admitted to the bar in 1754, Duane soon gained renown and wealth as a lawyer. Although he...

Chen Yi

(Encyclopedia)Chen Yi chŭn yē [key], 1901–72, Chinese Communist general and statesman. Chen was a political instructor (1925) in the Kuomintang Whampoa Military Academy. After the Kuomintang-Communist alliance ...

Bildt, Carl

(Encyclopedia)Bildt, Carl bēlt [key], 1949–, Swedish political leader. Born into a prominent family, he was elected to parliament in 1979 as a member of the conservative Moderate party, serving there until 2001....