La Crosse, city, seat (1851) of La Crosse county, western Wisconsin, U.S. It lies along the Mississippi River at the influx of the La Crosse River, about 130 miles (210 km) northwest of Madison. The settlement developed around a trading post (1841) on a site that French explorers named Prairie La

Canadian literature: Modern period, 1900–60: In this category fall the Prairie novels As for Me and My House (1941) by Sinclair Ross, Who Has Seen the Wind (1947) by W.O. Mitchell, and The Mountain and the Valley (1952) by Ernest Buckler, set in Nova Scotia’s Annapolis valley. These novels strain the bonds of conventional narrative…

meteor and meteoroid: Measurement of meteoroid orbits: Three such networks were developed—the Prairie Network in the central United States, the MORP (Meteorite Observation and Recovery Project) network in the Prairie Provinces of Canada, and the European Network with stations in Germany and Czechoslovakia. The most complete set of published data was that of the Prairie Network, which…

Oklahoma: Relief: The Prairie Plains region in the northeast is marked by grazing in its rougher portions and vegetable farms in the river valleys. Oil and gas fields are common, as is strip-mining for coal. It contains a number of middle-sized towns, some of which have small manufacturing…

Prairie Provinces, the Canadian provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, in the northern Great Plains region of North America. They constitute the great wheat-producing region of Canada and are a major source for petroleum, potash, and natural gas. With British Columbia they form the

Prairie style, in architecture, American style exemplified by the low-lying “prairie houses” such as Robie House (1908) that were for the most part built in the Midwest between 1900 and 1917 by Frank Lloyd Wright. Among the Midwest architects who were influenced by this style of design were Walter

prairie schooner, 19th-century covered wagon popularly used by emigrants traveling to the American West. In particular, it was the vehicle of choice on the Oregon Trail. The name prairie schooner was derived from the wagon’s white canvas cover, or bonnet, which gave it the appearance, from a

agricultural technology: Crop rotation: …can also occur; in certain prairie soils, continuous growing of deep-rooted legumes depletes soil moisture, and subsequent forage yield is improved by frequent plowing of the sod and planting of corn. In high-rainfall or irrigated areas, forage stands deteriorate from winter killing, disease, or grazing, to a point where a…

Illinois, constituent state of the United States of America. It stretches southward 385 miles (620 km) from the Wisconsin border in the north to Cairo in the south. In addition to Wisconsin, the state borders Lake Michigan to the northeast, Indiana to the east, Kentucky to the southeast, Missouri

Prairie style, in architecture, American style exemplified by the low-lying “prairie houses” such as Robie House (1908) that were for the most part built in the Midwest between 1900 and 1917 by Frank Lloyd Wright. Among the Midwest architects who were influenced by this style of design were Walter

cotton rat: …the native prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster). These two rodents are similar in both appearance and behaviour, the cotton rat being the prairie vole’s larger-bodied ecological equivalent. Indeed, the meadow vole (M. pennsylvanicus), ranging from Alaska to the Eastern Seaboard, is also prolific and is the most abundant mammal in…

coyote, (Canis latrans), New World member of the dog family (Canidae) that is smaller and more lightly built than the wolf (Canis lupus). The coyote, whose name is derived from the Aztec coyotl, is found from Alaska southward into Central America but especially on the Great Plains. Historically,

Atsina, North American Indian tribe related to the Algonquian-speaking Arapaho, from which they may have separated as early as 1700. The variant name Gros Ventres (French: “Big Bellies”) was a misinterpretation by French trappers of Plains Indian sign language. The Blackfoot called the Atsina the

The Prairie, novel by James Fenimore Cooper, published in two volumes in 1827, the third of five novels published as The Leatherstocking Tales. Chronologically, The Prairie is the fifth in the series, ending with the death of the octogenarian frontiersman Natty Bumppo, called Hawkeye. The Prairie

Lake Manitoba, narrow, irregularly shaped lake in south-central Manitoba, Canada, 45 miles (72 km) northwest of Winnipeg. Fed by many small streams and by Crane Narrows (the outlet from Lake Winnipegosis [north]), it is drained northeastward into Lake Winnipeg via Lake St. Martin and the Dauphin

Paul Durcan: His 22nd volume of poetry, Praise in Which I Live and Move and Have My Being, appeared in 2012.

praise song, one of the most widely used poetic forms in Africa; a series of laudatory epithets applied to gods, men, animals, plants, and towns that capture the essence of the object being praised. Professional bards, who may be both praise singers to a chief and court historians of their tribe,

Celtic literature: Developments of the 18th century: …setting of his greatest poems, Moladh Beinn Dóbhrainn (The Praise of Ben Dorain) and Oran Coire a Cheathaich (“Song of the Misty Corrie”). His most famous love song is addressed to his wife, Màiri.

Erasmus: The wandering scholar: The celebrated Moriae encomium, or Praise of Folly, conceived as Erasmus crossed the Alps on his way back to England and written at Thomas More’s house, expresses a very different mood. For the first time the earnest scholar saw his own efforts along with everyone else’s as bathed in a…

Erasmus: The wandering scholar: The celebrated Moriae encomium, or Praise of Folly, conceived as Erasmus crossed the Alps on his way back to England and written at Thomas More’s house, expresses a very different mood. For the first time the earnest scholar saw his own efforts along with everyone else’s as bathed in a…

praise song, one of the most widely used poetic forms in Africa; a series of laudatory epithets applied to gods, men, animals, plants, and towns that capture the essence of the object being praised. Professional bards, who may be both praise singers to a chief and court historians of their tribe,

Frank Loesser: …melody with lyrics was “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition,” the first big hit song of World War II. During the war he wrote for soldier-produced shows at army camps and composed the official song of the infantry, “What Do You Do in the Infantry?” From 1947 Loesser…

Jerry Falwell: …unsuccessfully sought to revive the PTL (Praise the Lord) Club, the conservative Christian organization and television network of the disgraced televangelist Jim Bakker. Falwell advocated a conservative Christian faith and condemned what he perceived as the sinfulness and godlessness of contemporary society. A segregationist in his early years, he later…

St. Francis of Assisi: The Franciscan rule of St. Francis of Assisi: In his “Canticle of the Creatures” (less properly called by such names as the “Praises of Creatures” or the “Canticle of the Sun”), he referred to “Brother Sun” and “Sister Moon,” the wind and water, and even “Sister Death.” He nicknamed his long and painful illnesses his…

St. Bernard of Clairvaux: Founder and abbot of Clairvaux: …concerning the Virgin Mary), “Praises of the Virgin Mother.” Bernard was to become a major champion of a moderate cult of the Virgin, though he did not support the notion of Mary’s Immaculate Conception.

Praisesong for the Widow, novel by Paule Marshall, published in 1983. Recently widowed Avey (Avatara) Johnson, a wealthy middle-aged African American woman, undergoes a spiritual rebirth and finds a vital connection to her past while visiting an island in the Caribbean. Marshall portrays the

Prajadhipok was the last absolute king of Siam (1925–35), under whose rule the Thai revolution of 1932 instituted the constitutional monarchy. Prajadhipok never expected to succeed to the throne. He was the 32nd and last son of King Chulalongkorn, the youngest of five sons by Queen Saowabha. When

saint: Buddhism: …women regarded as holy, including Prajapati, the Buddha’s aunt and stepmother—whose repeated requests finally caused the Buddha to permit women to enter his order—and his wife Yashodhara.

Prajapati, the great creator deity of the Vedic period of ancient India. In the post-Vedic age he came to be identified with the Hindu god Brahma. The frequent speculations on the creation of the world in the early Vedic literature allude to various primal figures, such as Hiranyagarbha (“Golden

triśikṣā: …of the truth, and (3) prajna (“wisdom”), understood not as a collection of empirical knowledge but as an intuitive experience of ultimate reality, attained in a state of samadhi.

Prajnaparamita, body of sutras and their commentaries that represents the oldest of the major forms of Mahayana Buddhism, one that radically extended the basic concept of ontological voidness (shunyata). The name denotes the female personification of the literature or of wisdom, sometimes called

Heart Sutra, in Mahayana Buddhism, an extremely brief yet highly influential distillation of the essence of Prajnaparamita (“Perfection of Wisdom”) writings, much reproduced and recited throughout East and Central Asia. True to its title, this short sutra goes to the heart of the doctrine it

prajñapti, in Buddhist philosophy, the denotation of a thing by a word. The concept of prajñapti is especially important in the Mādhyamika (“Middle View”) and Vijñānavāda (“Consciousness-affirming”) schools. Prajñapti is seen as a fictitious construction unrelated to ultimate reality, or

South Asian arts: The theatre: …on epic material, and the prakaraṇa, which is of the author’s invention, though often borrowed from narrative literature.

Vijayawada: The Prakasam Barrage on the Krishna River, completed in 1959, is one of the first major irrigation projects of the region. The village of Kondapalli, lying about 9 miles (14 km) northwest of Vijayawada, is a famous toy-making center. Pop. (2001) city, 851,282; urban agglom., 1,039,518;…

Prakrit languages, Middle Indo-Aryan languages known from inscriptions, literary works, and grammarians’ descriptions. Prakrit languages are related to Sanskrit but differ from and are contrasted with it in several ways. First, a distinction is made between speech forms considered to be correct or

Paryuṣaṇa, a popular eight-day festival in Jainism, a religion of India. It generally is celebrated by members of the Śvetāmbara sect from the 13th day of the dark half of the month Bhādrapada (August–September) to the 5th day of the bright half of the month. Among Digambaras, a corresponding

prakriti, in the Samkhya system (darshan) of Indian philosophy, material nature in its germinal state, eternal and beyond perception. When prakriti (female) comes into contact with the spirit, purusha (male), it starts on a process of evolution that leads through several stages to the creation of

prakriti, in the Samkhya system (darshan) of Indian philosophy, material nature in its germinal state, eternal and beyond perception. When prakriti (female) comes into contact with the spirit, purusha (male), it starts on a process of evolution that leads through several stages to the creation of

Southeast Asian arts: Dramatic and nondramatic forms: In the Thai praleng, two performers wearing god masks and holding peacock feathers in both hands perform an offertory dance to the god before the main dance-play begins. The Balinese legong, danced by a pair of preadolescent girls, may have only the most tenuous dramatic content. Its interest…

praline, in French confectionery, a cooked mixture of sugar, nuts, and vanilla, often ground to a paste for use as a pastry or candy filling, analogous to marzipan; also, a sugar-coated almond or other nutmeat. In the cookery of the American South, the term denotes a candy of sugared pecan meats or

praline, in French confectionery, a cooked mixture of sugar, nuts, and vanilla, often ground to a paste for use as a pastry or candy filling, analogous to marzipan; also, a sugar-coated almond or other nutmeat. In the cookery of the American South, the term denotes a candy of sugared pecan meats or

pramana, in Indian philosophy, the means by which one obtains accurate and valid knowledge (prama, pramiti) about the world. The accepted number of pramana varies, according to the philosophical system or school; the exegetic system of Mimamsa accepts five, whereas Vedanta as a whole proposes

Pramana-varttika, perhaps the foremost work on Buddhist logic and epistemology, written in the 7th century. The Pramana-varttika is the chief work of Dharmakirti, originally a southern Indian Brahman. The Pramana-varttika is written in about 2,000 stanzas of mnemonic verse, and its four chapters

Indian philosophy: The ultralogical period: …Jaina works, such as Devasuri’s Pramananayatattvalokalamkara (“The Ornament of the Light of Truth of the Different Points of View Regarding the Means of True Knowledge,” 12th century ce) and Prabhachandra’s Prameyakamalamartanda (“The Sun of the Lotus of the Objects of True Knowledge,” 11th century ce), were written during this period.…

Indian philosophy: The logical period: …a Buddhist logician, wrote the Pramanasamuccaya (“Compendium of the Means of True Knowledge”), a work that laid the foundations of Buddhist logic.

Prambanan, village in the daerah istimewa (special district) of Yogyakarta, Indonesia, known for a large, nearby complex of temples built in the 9th and 10th centuries. The best-known set of temples in the complex is that of Lara Jonggrang, also called Candi Prambanan (Prambanan Temple) because of

Prambanan: …the complex is that of Lara Jonggrang, also called Candi Prambanan (Prambanan Temple) because of its close proximity to the village. These temples were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999.

Indian philosophy: The ultralogical period: …12th century ce) and Prabhachandra’s Prameyakamalamartanda (“The Sun of the Lotus of the Objects of True Knowledge,” 11th century ce), were written during this period. Under the Chola kings (c. 850–1279) and later in the Vijayanagara kingdom (which, along with Mithila in the north, remained strongholds of Hinduism until the…

antidiabetic drug: Other agents: Pramlintide is an injectable synthetic hormone (based on the human hormone amylin) that regulates blood glucose levels by slowing the absorption of food in the stomach and by inhibiting glucagon, which normally stimulates liver glucose production. Exenatide is an injectable antihyperglycemic drug that works similarly…

Pramoedya Ananta Toer was a Javanese novelist and short-story writer, the preeminent prose writer of post-independence Indonesia. Pramoedya, the son of a schoolteacher, went to Jakarta while a teenager and worked as a typist there under the Japanese occupation during World War II. In 1945, at the

bhūmi: …progressively superior stages as: (1) pramuditā (“joyful,” with the thought that, having begun the career of a bodhisattva, he will attain enlightenment and will help others), (2) vimalā (“free from impurities”), (3) prabhākarī (“luminous” with the noble doctrine), (4) arciṣmatī (“brilliant,” the rays of his virtue consuming evil passions and…

Pramoedya Ananta Toer was a Javanese novelist and short-story writer, the preeminent prose writer of post-independence Indonesia. Pramoedya, the son of a schoolteacher, went to Jakarta while a teenager and worked as a typist there under the Japanese occupation during World War II. In 1945, at the

prana, in Indian philosophy, the body’s vital “airs,” or energies. A central conception in early Hindu philosophy, particularly as expressed in the Upanishads, prana was held to be the principle of vitality and was thought to survive as a person’s “last breath” for eternity or until a future life.

prana, in Indian philosophy, the body’s vital “airs,” or energies. A central conception in early Hindu philosophy, particularly as expressed in the Upanishads, prana was held to be the principle of vitality and was thought to survive as a person’s “last breath” for eternity or until a future life.

Central Asian arts: Sculpture and painting: … that adorn watering places (pranali) of Nepal. Water spouts forth from makara (Hindu water monster with the body of a crocodile and the head of an elephant) snouts sheathed in gilt copper into reservoirs laid out with architectural dignity. As far as present knowledge goes, Newari sculpture was dominated…

ceremonial object: Objects used in prayer and meditation: …rite of “initiation of breath,” pranapratishtha (see also prayer).

pranayama, in the Yoga darshan (system) of Indian philosophy, the fourth of eight stages intended to lead the aspirant to samadhi, a state of perfect concentration. The immediate goal of pranayama is to reduce breathing to an effortless even rhythm, thus helping to free the individual’s mind from

pranayama, in the Yoga darshan (system) of Indian philosophy, the fourth of eight stages intended to lead the aspirant to samadhi, a state of perfect concentration. The immediate goal of pranayama is to reduce breathing to an effortless even rhythm, thus helping to free the individual’s mind from

Western architecture: Central Europe: The third Austrian master, Jakob Prandtauer, on the other hand, came from a local stonemason tradition and worked primarily for monastic orders. Fischer von Erlach’s University Church in Salzburg (1696) is particularly noteworthy and shows direct Italian inspiration, while the Karlskirche, Vienna (1715), demonstrates his original, mature phase. Hildebrandt’s…

Ludwig Prandtl: …work is known as the Lanchester-Prandtl wing theory.

Ludwig Prandtl was a German physicist who is considered to be the father of aerodynamics. In 1901 Prandtl became professor of mechanics at the Technical Institute of Hannover, where he continued his earlier efforts to provide a sound theoretical basis for fluid mechanics. From 1904 to 1953, he

Ludwig Prandtl: He contributed the Prandtl-Glaubert rule for subsonic airflow to describe the compressibility effects of air at high speeds. In addition to his important advances in the theories of supersonic flow and turbulence, he made notable innovations in the design of wind tunnels and other aerodynamic equipment. He also…

Christmas card: ” Boston lithographer Louis Prang is credited with producing the first commercial Christmas cards in the United States; by the 1880s he was producing more than five million a year, using the chromolithography process, which allows subtle and realistic coloration and detail.

pillory, an instrument of corporal punishment consisting of a wooden post and frame fixed on a platform raised several feet from the ground. The head and hands of the offender were thrust through holes in the frame (as were the feet in the stocks) so as to be held fast and exposed in front of it.

Wainganga River, river, tributary of the Godavari River, western India. Its name, which means “Arrow of Water,” was probably derived from the names of the goddess Ganga and of Venu, or Benu, a king who ruled in Damoh during Puranic times. The Wainganga rises in the Mahadeo Hills in south-central

Prapañcā was an Indonesian court poet and historian who was born to a family of Buddhist scholars. He was most famous as the author of the Nāgarakṛtāgama, a long descriptive poem written in 1365, detailing life in the kingdom of Java during the early reign of Hayam Wuruk, who ruled under the name

Prapañcā was an Indonesian court poet and historian who was born to a family of Buddhist scholars. He was most famous as the author of the Nāgarakṛtāgama, a long descriptive poem written in 1365, detailing life in the kingdom of Java during the early reign of Hayam Wuruk, who ruled under the name

Indian philosophy: The ultralogical period: …ce) taught the path of prapatti, or complete surrender to God. The philosophers Ramanuja (11th century), Madhva, and Nimbarka (c. 12th century) developed theistic systems of Vedanta and severely criticized Shankara’s Advaita Vedanta.

Thailand: Military dictatorship, economic growth, and the reemergence of the monarchy: his successors, Thanom Kittikachorn and Praphas Charusathian, who jointly held power throughout the decade following Sarit’s death. Their rule was, nonetheless, also characterized by the continuing growth of the Thai economy. During the 1960s Thailand became increasingly involved with the United States in the Vietnam War. By 1969 Thailand had…

Prarthana Samaj, (Sanskrit: “Prayer Society”), Hindu reform society established in Bombay in the 1860s. In purpose it is similar to, but not affiliated with, the more widespread Brahmo Samaj and had its greatest sphere of influence in and around India’s Mahārāshtra state. The aim of the society is

Prarthana Samaj, (Sanskrit: “Prayer Society”), Hindu reform society established in Bombay in the 1860s. In purpose it is similar to, but not affiliated with, the more widespread Brahmo Samaj and had its greatest sphere of influence in and around India’s Mahārāshtra state. The aim of the society is

Rajendra Prasad was an Indian politician, lawyer, and journalist who was the first president of the Republic of India (1950–62). He also was a comrade of Mahatma Gandhi early in the noncooperation movement for independence and was president of the Indian National Congress (1934, 1939, and 1947).

prasada, in Hinduism, food and water offered to a deity during worship (puja). It is believed that the deity partakes of and then returns the offering, thereby consecrating it. The offering is then distributed and eaten by the worshippers. The efficacy of the prasada comes from its having been

Buddhapālita: …was the founder of the Prāsaṅgika school of Buddhism, mainly distinguished by its method of argumentation, similar to the Socratic dialogue. Buddhapālita wrote one of the early commentaries on the Akutobhaya (“The Safe One”) by the famous monk Nāgārjuna. Today, however, both the commentary and the original are available only…

Candrakīrti: …wrote the famous commentary the Prasannapadā (“The Clear Worded”) on the thought of the Buddhist sage Nāgārjuna. Although there were several earlier commentaries explaining Nāgārjuna, Candrakīrti’s became the most authoritative; it is the only one that has been preserved in its original Sanskrit (other commentaries are available only in Tibetan…

pradakshina: …shoulder toward the central object—called prasavya, is observed in funeral ceremonies.

prase, translucent, leek-green variety of the silica mineral chalcedony (q.v.). Coloured by hornblende fibres and chlorite, it was used by the ancients for engravings. Prase has been found at numerous

praseodymium (Pr), chemical element, a rare-earth metal of the lanthanide series of the periodic table. Praseodymium is a moderately soft, ductile, and malleable silvery white metal. It rapidly displaces hydrogen from water in diluted acids (except hydrofluoric acid [HF]) and slowly oxidizes in

Indian philosophy: The old school: …as early as the commentators Prashastapada (5th century ce) and Uddyotakara (7th century ce) the authors of the Nyaya-Vaisheshika schools used each other’s doctrines and the fusion of the two schools was well on its way, the two schools continued to have different authors and lines of commentators. About the…

algae: Annotated classification: Class Prasinophyceae (Micromonadophyceae) Paraphyletic, primarily marine; includes Micromonas (sometimes placed in Mamiellophyceae), Ostreococcus, and Pyramimonas. Class Ulvophyceae Primarily marine; includes Acetabularia,

Praslin Island, island, second largest of the Seychelles archipelago, Republic of Seychelles, in the western Indian Ocean. The island is 2.5 miles (4 km) wide and 7 miles (11 km) long and is 25 miles (40 km) northeast of Mahé Island. Praslin is granitic in origin and mountainous. Seven percent of

gastronomy: The Pacific and Southeast Asia: …been replaced there by the prasmanan, a lengthy, buffet-style meal also featuring scores of dishes. Rijsttafel became popular in the Netherlands, however, and could be ordered in many restaurants, particularly in Amsterdam.

Prasopora, extinct genus of bryozoans, small colonial animals that formed mosslike or encrusting growths, especially characteristic of the Ordovician Period (488.3 million to 443.7 million years ago). Prasopora generally is characterized by caplike colonies domed on top and flat on the bottom. The

Boudicca: Prasutagus, was king of the Iceni (in what is now Norfolk) as a client under Roman suzerainty. When Prasutagus died in 60 with no male heir, he left his private wealth to his two daughters and to the emperor Nero, trusting thereby to win imperial…

Southeast Asian arts: First golden age: King Narai (1657–88): …the most famous were Maharajaguru; Si Prat, a wild young gallant who wrote the romantic poem Aniruddha (the name of the hero of the poem) and some passionate love songs; Khun Devakavi, author of cradle-songs using many Sanskrit and Khmer words but modeled on the Burmese ayegyin; and Si Mahosot,…

Suetonius: An encyclopaedia called Prata (“Meadows”), a work like the Natural History of Pliny the Elder, was attributed to him and often quoted in late antiquity.

India: The south: Travancore and Mysore: The reign of Pratapasimha (1739–63) marks the beginning of Thanjavur’s slide into fiscal ruin. Here again it was the mounting costs of war and the intrusive presence of the Europeans on the coast that triggered the crisis.

Pratapgarh, district, southeast-central Uttar Pradesh state, northern India. Part of the great alluvial Indo-Gangetic Plain, it is bounded on the southwest by the Ganges (Ganga) River and drained by one of its tributaries, the Sai River. The district is fertile and partially forested, although

Pratapgarh, town, southern Rajasthan state, northwestern India. It lies in an upland region about 40 miles (64 km) northeast of Banswara. The town was founded in 1689 and was the capital of the princely state of Partabgarh (founded in the 15th century), which became part of the state of Rajasthan

Terry Pratchett was an English author, predominantly of humorous fantasy and science fiction, best known for his Discworld series. Pratchett was raised in Buckinghamshire, the son of an engineer and a secretary. He became enamoured with science fiction and fantasy at a young age and published his

Terry Pratchett was an English author, predominantly of humorous fantasy and science fiction, best known for his Discworld series. Pratchett was raised in Buckinghamshire, the son of an engineer and a secretary. He became enamoured with science fiction and fantasy at a young age and published his

biblical literature: Printed editions: …medieval Jewish commentaries—was edited by Felix Pratensis and published by Daniel Bomberg (Venice, 1516/17). The second edition, edited by Jacob ben Hayyim ibn Adonijah and issued by Bomberg in four volumes (Venice, 1524/25), became the prototype of future Hebrew Bibles down to the 20th century. It contained a vast text-critical…

Vienna: Layout and architecture: …is the famous 3,200-acre (1,295-hectare) Prater, formerly the hunting and riding preserve of the aristocracy but since 1766 a public park whose amenities include a stadium, fairgrounds, racetracks, and many restaurants. Beyond another ring road, the Gürtel, lie the outer suburbs (districts X–XX), which are largely residential. Also beyond the…

Sam and Dave, American vocal duo who were among the most popular performers of soul music in the late 1960s and whose gritty, gospel-drenched style typified the Memphis Sound. The duo’s members were Moore and Prater were gospel group veterans when they joined forces in Miami in 1961; their sound

Aleardo, Count Aleardi: …also edited, with the poet Giovanni Prati, an outspoken journal, Il Caffè Pedrocchi. The Austrians imprisoned him twice (1852 and 1859) and finally sent him into exile.

Francesco Balducci Pegolotti: …as the author of the Pratica della mercatura (“Practice of Marketing”), which provides an excellent picture of trade and travel in his day.

Nicola Sabbatini: …major and most-enduring written work, Pratica di fabricar scene e macchine ne’ teatri (1638; “Manual for Constructing Scenes and Machines in the Theatre”), Sabbatini described contemporary theatrical techniques, including those used for stage lighting. He demonstrated, for instance, how a bank of stage lights could be illuminated or dimmed simultaneously…

Lavinium, an ancient town of Latium (modern Pratica di Mare, Italy), 19 miles (30 kilometers) south of Rome, regarded as the religious centre of the early Latin peoples. Roman tradition maintained that it had been founded by Aeneas and his followers from Troy and named after his wife, Lavinia. Here

Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty, either of two dynasties of medieval Hindu India. The line of Harichandra ruled in Mandor, Marwar (Jodhpur, Rajasthan), during the 6th to 9th centuries ce, generally with feudatory status. The line of Nagabhata ruled first at Ujjain and later at Kannauj during the 8th to