Columbia Encyclopedia

(Encyclopedia) Delhi Sultanate, refers to the various Muslim dynasties that ruled in India (1210–1526). It was founded after Muhammad of Ghor defeated Prithvi Raj and captured Delhi in 1192. In 1206, Qutb ud-Din, ...

(Encyclopedia) Ali älēˈ [key] (Ali ibn Abu Talib), 598?–661, 4th caliph (656–61). The debate over his right to the caliphate caused a major split in Islam into Sunni and Shiite branches, and he is regarded by...

(Encyclopedia) sharia, the religious law of Islam. As Islam makes no distinction between religion and life, Islamic law covers not only ritual but many aspects of life. The actual codification of canonic law is the ...

(Encyclopedia) Latrobe, John Hazlehurst Boneval, 1803–91, American philanthropist, b. Philadelphia; son of Benjamin H. Latrobe. He studied law, and from 1828 until his death he was regularly retained as counsel fo...

(Encyclopedia) Foster, Charles, 1828–1904, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury (1891–93), b. Seneca co., Ohio. He was long identified with the business interests of Fostoria, Ohio—named for C. W. Foster, his father...

(Encyclopedia) Hamlin, Talbot Faulkner, 1889–1956, American historian of architecture, b. New York City. He was librarian of the Avery Library, Columbia (1934–45), and professor of architecture there. Hamlin wro...

(Encyclopedia) Archite ärˈkī [key], in the Bible, clan that owned Ataroth between Bethel and Beth-horon, on the boundary between Ephraim and Benjamin. Hushai, David's friend, was a member of the clan. ...

(Encyclopedia) Woburn wo͞oˈbərn [key], city (1990 pop. 35,943), Middlesex co., NE Mass.; settled 1640, inc. as a city 1888. Formerly a major center for tanneries, the city has electrical, pharmaceutical, chemical...

(Encyclopedia) Brown, Mather, 1761–1831, American portrait and historical painter, b. Boston. He studied under Benjamin West in London and continued to work in England. His portraits include those of George IV (Bu...

(Encyclopedia) Bliss, Daniel, 1823–1916, American missionary, b. Franklin co., Vt., founder of Syrian Protestant College (now the American Univ. of Beirut) in Lebanon. He went to Syria in 1855, returning in 1862 t...