History key terms

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A buffer area from which opposing military forces are withdrawn.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 process of releasing soldiers and sailors from military service when they are no longer needed.

A system of government in which the people exercise political power. In ancient Athens, this meant participation by its citizen body, not by everyone who lived there.

A wall on Xidan street in Beijing where people displayed posters calling for greater democracy and criticising government policies from late 1978.

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

The citizen body or ordinary citizens of an ancient Greek community.

An ancient Roman silver coin.

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

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

A historical process through which the Crown granted an alien British nationality by letters of denization; the recipient could not pass that status to their children.

A foreign-born resident granted some rights by the Crown through letters of denization, without becoming equal in status to an English subject.

A legal position granted to a foreign-born person that provided some rights enjoyed by English subjects, but was not full naturalisation.

Reporting another person to the authorities, often by accusing them of disloyalty or wrongdoing.

The forced removal of people from their homes to another region or country.

The removal of a monarch from the throne.

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.

Holding a person in custody without putting them on trial.

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

A measure intended to discourage an action by making its possible consequences frightening or costly.

The transfer of responsibility for specified decisions from central government to institutions in parts of the same country.

A band worn around the head as a sign of royal status.

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

Treatment that removes waste from the blood when the kidneys cannot do so adequately.

In the Roman Republic, a temporary emergency commander with exceptional powers.

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