Columbia Encyclopedia

(Encyclopedia) Genesis jĕnˈəsĭs [key], 1st book of the Bible, first of the five books of the Law (the Pentateuch or Torah) ascribed by tradition to Moses. Beginning with two accounts of the creation and of human...

(Encyclopedia) Friesland frĭzhˈə [key], province , c.1,325 sq mi (3,430 sq km), N Netherlands. Leeuwarden is the capital. The pro...

(Encyclopedia) Islam in Africa, the development of the Muslim religion on the African continent. During Muhammad's lifetime a group of Muslims escaped Meccan persecution (615) by fleeing to Ethiopia, where the Negus...

(Encyclopedia) fabliau, plural fabliaux both: fäblēōˈ [key], short comic, often bawdy tale in verse that deals realistically and satirically with middle-class or lower-class characters. Fabliaux were often direc...

(Encyclopedia) illustration, any type of picture or decoration used in conjunction with a text to embellish its appearance or to clarify its meaning. Illustration is as old as writing, with both originating in the p...

(Encyclopedia) spice, aromatic vegetable product used as a flavoring or condiment. The term was formerly applied also to pungent or aromatic foods (e.g., gingerbread and currants), to ingredients of incense or perfu...

(Encyclopedia) Orrmulum or Ormulum both: ôrmˈyo͞oləm [key], Middle English collection of homilies on the Gospels, in verse, comprising about 10,000 lines in all. The collection was written c.1200 by Orrm (or Orr...

(Encyclopedia) Buffalo City, metropolitan municipality, Eastern Cape prov., South Africa, on the Indian Ocean. East London is the municipal...

(Encyclopedia) Gusmão, Xanana), 1946–, East Timorese independence leader, b. Portuguese Timor as José Alexandre Gusmão, later known as Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão. He served in the Portuguese army (1968–71), then...

(Encyclopedia) Humberside, former county, NE England. Created in the 1974 local government reorganization, the county was dissolved in 1996 and replaced by four unitary authorities: the East Riding of Yorkshire, Kin...