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commercial revolution

(Encyclopedia)commercial revolution, in European history, a fundamental change in the quantity and scope of commerce. In the later Middle Ages steady economic expansion had seen the rise of towns and the advent of ...

Howard, John, English prison reformer

(Encyclopedia)Howard, John, 1726–90, English prison reformer. He had great influence in improving sanitary conditions and securing humane treatment in prisons throughout Europe. He was responsible (1774) for pers...

Ismail, sultan of Morocco

(Encyclopedia)Ismail, 1646?–1727, sultan of Morocco (1672–1727). He organized corps of Sudanese to subdue the revolts that followed his accession. He attacked Christian strongholds in Morocco, regaining Larache...

Japheth

(Encyclopedia)Japheth jāˈfĕth [key], in the Bible, son of Noah and ancestor of those who were to occupy the isles of the Gentiles. This has been supposed to mean the Mediterranean lands of Europe and Asia Minor....

Oligocene epoch

(Encyclopedia)Oligocene epoch ŏlˈəgōsēnˌ [key], third epoch of the Tertiary period in the Cenozoic era of geologic time, lasting from 38 to 24 million years ago. More of North America was dry land during the ...

commercial law

(Encyclopedia)commercial law, the laws that govern business transactions, except those relating to the maritime transportation of goods (see maritime law). Commercial law developed as a distinct body of jurispruden...

Arrebo, Anders

(Encyclopedia)Arrebo, Anders änˈərs äˈrəbō [key], 1587–1637, Danish poet, bishop of Trondheim. His massive narrative poem, the Hexaemeron (written c.1630, pub. 1661), introduced the alexandrine meter to N ...

Lido di Venezia

(Encyclopedia)Lido di Venezia lēˈdō dē vānĕˈtsyä [key], long, narrow, sandy island in Venetia, Italy, separating the lagoon of Venice from the Adriatic. It has a beautiful beach and is one of the most fashi...

mead

(Encyclopedia)mead mēd [key], wine made of fermented honey and water, sometimes flavored with spices. It is highly intoxicating. Mead was known in classical Greece and Rome and was the favorite drink of the tribes...

Katrineholm

(Encyclopedia)Katrineholm käˌtrēnəhôlmˈ [key], city (1990 pop. 21,660), Södermanland co., S Sweden; chartered 1917. It is a commercial, industrial, and transportation center. The city has one of Europe's lar...