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Mansur, al-, 914–1002, Moorish regent of Córdoba

(Encyclopedia)Mansur, al- (Muhammad ibn Abi-Amir al-Mansur billah), 914–1002, Moorish regent of Córdoba, known in Spanish as Almanzor. He became steward to Princess Subh, wife of the caliph Hakim II, and under h...

Midhat Pasha

(Encyclopedia)Midhat Pasha mĭdhätˈ päshäˈ [key], 1822–83, Turkish politician. As governor of Bulgaria he succeeded within the few years of his tenure (1864–69) in raising the country from misery to relati...

houri

(Encyclopedia)houri ho͞oˈrē, houˈ– [key] [Arab.,=black-eyed], one of the beautiful maidens said by some Muslims to dwell in paradise for the enjoyment of the faithful. The passages in the Qur'an detailing the...

Nova Sofala

(Encyclopedia)Nova Sofala nôˈvə so͝ofäˈlə [key], city, SE Mozambique, on Mozambique Channel. An early Arab trading post, it was settled by the Portuguese in 1505, when a fort was built. Nova Sofala was the s...

Oujda

(Encyclopedia)Oujda or Oudjda both: o͞ojdäˈ [key], Arab. Ujda, city (1994 pop. 357,278), NE Morocco, near the Algerian border. It is a railroad junction, agricultural market, and commercial center. It was occupi...

sirocco

(Encyclopedia)sirocco sərŏkˈō [key] [Ital., from Arab. sharq=east], hot, dust-laden, dry, southerly wind originating in the N African desert (most commonly in the spring) and reaching Italy and nearby Mediterra...

Middle East

(Encyclopedia)Middle East, term traditionally applied by western Europeans to the countries of SW Asia and NE Africa lying W of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. Thus defined it includes Cyprus, the Asian part of T...

Faiyum, El

(Encyclopedia)Faiyum, El fīyo͞omˈ [key], region, coextensive with El Faiyum governorate, N Egypt, W of the Nile River, a depression (entirely below sea level) in the Libyan (or Western) Desert. It is an irrigat...

Sufism

(Encyclopedia)Sufism so͞oˈfĭzəm [key], an umbrella term for the ascetic and mystical movements within Islam. While Sufism is said to have incorporated elements of Christian monasticism, gnosticism, and Indian m...

Opa-Locka

(Encyclopedia)Opa-Locka ōˈpə-lŏkˈə [key], city (1990 pop. 15,283), Dade co., SE Fla.; inc. 1926. There is some diverse light industry. Opa-Locka has a large county airport, which also houses a U.S. Coast Guar...