OCR GCSE History B key terms

Land held from a lord in return for obligations such as military service.

The Nazis’ name for their plan to murder all of Europe’s Jews.

Money an offender is ordered to pay as a penalty.

A ship deliberately set on fire and sent towards an enemy fleet to damage ships or force them to scatter.

A long, narrow inlet of the sea bordered by steep land, characteristic of Norway's coastline.

People who publicly whipped themselves to show repentance, hoping that God would stop punishing them with plague.

People from Flanders, a region of the Low Countries whose medieval boundaries differed from those of modern countries.

A battle arranged between opposing states, particularly to capture warriors for religious sacrifice rather than necessarily to conquer territory.

Battles fought to capture warriors for human sacrifice, including conflicts between the Mexica and Tlaxcalans.

An organised conflict fought to obtain prisoners for religious sacrifice rather than simply to conquer territory.

Searching the surrounding countryside for food and other supplies needed by an army.

Work imposed on people against their will, under threat of punishment.

The use of scientific methods to examine evidence connected with a crime, such as fingerprints, blood or DNA.

The loss of land as a punishment, for example for rebellion or failure to fulfil obligations.

A defended military base where soldiers were stationed, often to protect a strategically important area.

A structure or defensive work built to make a place harder to attack, such as a wall, bank or ditch.

A defended site used as a base for activities such as military operations, trade and administration.

The people legally entitled to vote, or the right to vote itself. Extending the franchise means allowing more people to vote.

The kingdom or empire of the Franks, covering much of modern France and neighbouring European territories. West Francia emerged from its division in 843.

A Catholic religious order whose friars followed the rule of St Francis, emphasising poverty, preaching and religious service.

Deliberate deception used to obtain money or another benefit.

A person of African origin who was not enslaved. Free Africans in early modern England included paid workers and people running their own businesses.

An agency established by Congress in 1865 to help oversee the transition from slavery to freedom.

The right of citizens of participating countries to move between them to live and work, subject to the applicable rules.

Trade between countries without import taxes intended to protect domestic producers from foreign competition.

A member of a religious order who lives according to its rules and works among communities, often preaching and teaching.

The German word for ‘leader’; the title Hitler used when he combined the powers of president and chancellor in August 1934.