AQA GCSE History key terms

Tribute paid to Viking attackers in the hope of persuading them to stop attacking.

The area of northern and eastern England where Scandinavian settlement and rule established Danish legal customs.

The narrow sea passage connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara, on the route towards Constantinople and the Black Sea.

A political situation in which opposing groups prevent decisions from being agreed or carried out.

A sum of money owed to another person or organisation.

Charles II’s statement of 1660 offering reconciliation, including a pardon with exceptions, consideration of disputed property and toleration for moderate non-Anglican Protestants.

Charles II’s declaration of March 1672 suspending religious penal laws and allowing licensed Protestant Nonconformist worship. It also extended toleration to Catholics and was withdrawn in 1673 following parliamentary opposition.

The process through which territories under colonial rule become independent.

A chemical used to remove leaves from plants and trees, reducing the cover provided by vegetation.

Racial separation imposed by law, rather than only by people's practices or economic circumstances.

The dismantling of a country’s armed forces and military institutions, and the removal or control of its capacity to wage war.

Kept free of military forces and fortifications.

An area in which armed forces and military defences are forbidden.

A buffer area from which opposing military forces are withdrawn. In Korea, the armistice required withdrawal by 2 km on each side of the military demarcation line.

The Communist Party principle that members could debate before a decision, but had to obey the leadership’s decision once it was made.

The removal of Nazi organisations, influence and ideas from German public life after the Second World War.

A prolonged, severe economic downturn affecting production, trade and employment.

Ending racial separation so that people of different races can use the same institutions and facilities.

Leaving military service without permission.

The Elizabethan category for people considered worthy of assistance because age, illness or disability prevented them from supporting themselves.

Khrushchev’s policy of criticising Stalin’s rule and moving away from some of his methods of government.

The deliberate easing of tension between hostile countries; in the Cold War, improved US–Soviet relations through negotiation without ending their rivalry.

Discouraging an opponent from attacking by making the likely consequences too costly or dangerous.

Identifying an illness by examining a patient’s symptoms and other evidence.

A system of government in which a ruler or ruling group exercises power without effective democratic checks or freely organised political opposition.

A settlement imposed on a country rather than freely negotiated; German critics used this term for the Treaty of Versailles.

An area of the Church administered by a bishop.