Key terms & definitions

A place whose position makes it important for defence, movement or control, such as a river crossing or key transport route.

A planned change to the position of the defended coastline, allowing selected land to flood or erode rather than continuing to defend its existing boundary.

The importance of a place’s position for objectives such as defence, control and access.

The ten elected Athenian generals, responsible for military leadership; the singular is strategos.

An elected Athenian general with military responsibilities and considerable political influence.

One of the ten Athenian generals elected each year (plural strategoi).

The overall planning of a war or campaign, including objectives and how forces will be used.

The arrangement of vegetation into distinct vertical layers.

Dividing a population into distinct groups before selecting a sample.

Willmott and Young’s principle that changes in family norms and behaviour begin among higher social classes and spread to other classes.

Dividing a population into relevant subgroups and randomly selecting from each in proportion to its size in the population.

A sample selected by dividing the population into groups and randomly selecting people from each group in proportion to its size in the population.

Dividing a population or area into relevant groups and selecting samples from each group.

A sampling method in which the population is divided into strata and a random sample is selected from each, with sample numbers proportional to the stratum sizes.

Selecting participants so that relevant subgroups are represented in the same proportions as in the target population.

The study of the order and relationships of layers of rock or sediment, used to work out which finds are relatively older or younger.

The sequence and relationships of archaeological layers. Studying these helps archaeologists distinguish successive periods of occupation.

A steep-sided volcano built from volcanic material that accumulates around a vent; its viscous magma can trap gases and produce explosive eruptions.

One of the groups into which a population is divided during stratification. The plural is strata.

A subgroup of a population defined by a shared characteristic, such as an age category. The plural is strata.

Watching or listening to content over the internet without needing to download the complete recording first.

Receiving and playing audio or video as data arrives, rather than waiting for the whole file to download before playback begins.

Grouping pupils by assessed attainment or ability into groups that remain together across most or all subjects.

Playing audio or video delivered over the internet without first downloading the whole file.

Watching or listening to content delivered over the internet as it plays, without first downloading the complete file.

A shape designed to allow a fluid to flow around an object more smoothly, reducing drag at a given speed.

Shaping an object so that it experiences less resistance as it moves through a fluid such as air.

Shaping an object so that it experiences less resistance as it moves through air or another fluid.

A style that follows the movement of a character’s thoughts through associations, digressions and changes of subject.

The energy available in flowing river water to do work, such as eroding and transporting sediment; it is influenced by discharge and channel slope.