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Páez, Pedro
(Encyclopedia)Páez, Pedro pāˈᵺrō päˈāth [key], 1564–1622, Spanish Jesuit missionary. He preached in Goa, India, was enslaved for seven years in Sana, Yemen, and in 1603 arrived in Ethiopia. He rapidly le...coast protection
(Encyclopedia)coast protection, methods used to protect coastal lands from erosion. Beaches can exist only where a delicate dynamic equilibrium exists between the amount of sand supplied to the beach and the inevit...shield, armor
(Encyclopedia)shield, piece of defensive armor, worn on the arm or shoulder to ward off weapons during combat, used prior to the dominance of gunpowder. Originally for individual defense during hand-to-hand combat,...baccarat
(Encyclopedia)baccarat bäˈkəräˌ, băkˈ–, Fr. bäkäräˈ [key], French card game formerly widely played in European casinos but now supplanted in popularity by chemin de fer. The banker plays against the ha...cane, walking stick
(Encyclopedia)cane, walking stick. Probably used first as a weapon, it gradually took on the symbolism of strength and power and eventually authority and social prestige. Ancient Egyptian rulers carried the symboli...hammock
(Encyclopedia)hammock, suspended bed, usually of netting, canvas, or leather. The hammock and its name were introduced to Europeans by Christopher Columbus, who learned of them from Native Americans. While the plai...Capgrave, John
(Encyclopedia)Capgrave, John, 1393–1464, English author and Augustinian friar. One of the most learned men of his day, he was a distinguished theologian, philosopher, and historian. His writings, many of which ha...Planudes Maximus
(Encyclopedia)Planudes Maximus pləno͞oˈdēz măkˈsĭməs [key] or Maximus Planudes, c.1260–c.1330, Byzantine scholar, an exceptionally learned monk. His edition of the Greek Anthology was long the standard. H...Sebastian, Saint
(Encyclopedia)Sebastian, Saint, fl. 3d cent.?, Roman martyr. Little is known of his life. According to tradition he was an officer of the Praetorian guards much favored by Emperor Diocletian, who did not know that ...Landini, Francesco
(Encyclopedia)Landini, Francesco fränchāsˈkō ländēˈnē [key], c.1325–97, Italian composer. Although Landini was blinded from smallpox in childhood, he learned to play the lute, guitar, flute, and organ. Hi...Browse by Subject
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