Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Weiss, Rainer

(Encyclopedia)Weiss, Rainer, 1932–, American physicist, b. Berlin, Germany, Ph.D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1962. Weiss has been on the faculty of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology since 1964...

walrus

(Encyclopedia)walrus, marine mammal, Odobenus rosmarus, found in Arctic seas. Largest of the fin-footed mammals, or pinnipeds (see seal), the walrus is also distinguished by its long tusks and by cheek pads bearing...

revolutions of 1848

(Encyclopedia)revolutions of 1848, in European history. The February Revolution in France gave impetus to a series of revolutionary explosions in Western and Central Europe. However the new French Republic did not ...

Henry the Lion

(Encyclopedia)Henry the Lion, 1129–95, duke of Saxony (1142–80) and of Bavaria (1156–80); son of Henry the Proud. His father died (1139) while engaged in a war to regain his duchies, and it was not until 1142...

Holy Roman Emperors (table)

(Encyclopedia)HOLY ROMAN EMPERORS(including dates of reign) Saxon dynasty Salian or Franconian dynasty Hohenstaufen dynasty and rivals Interregnum, 1254–73 Hapsburg, Luxemburg, and other dynasties ...

Sigismund

(Encyclopedia)Sigismund sĭjˈĭsmənd, sĭgˈ– [key], 1368–1437, Holy Roman emperor (1433–37), German king (1410–37), king of Hungary (1387–1437) and of Bohemia (1419–37), elector of Brandenburg (1376�...

Aulard, Alphonse

(Encyclopedia)Aulard, Alphonse älfôNsˈ ōlärˈ [key], 1849–1928, French historian. He was the first professional historian of the French Revolution, and he devoted his life to this study. A professor at the U...

Rowlandson, Thomas

(Encyclopedia)Rowlandson, Thomas rōˈləndsən [key], 1756–1827, English caricaturist, b. London. He studied at the Royal Academy and in Paris, but his passion for gambling prevented him from producing much unti...

lyrebird

(Encyclopedia)lyrebird, common name for Australian passerine birds named for the appearance of the tail plumage of the male superb lyrebird, Menura novaehollandiae, when displayed during courtship. There are only t...

Jaurès, Jean

(Encyclopedia)Jaurès, Jean zhäN zhōrĕsˈ [key], 1859–1914, French Socialist leader and historian. A brilliant student and teacher, he entered the chamber of deputies in 1885 and subsequently became a Socialis...