History key terms

A choral song and dance performed in honour of Dionysus.

A community whose residents come from several different national, ethnic or cultural backgrounds.

The range of different people, groups and activities connected with a historical site.

The belief that a monarch’s authority to rule comes from God.

The belief that a monarch’s authority comes from God, rather than being granted by the people or Parliament.

The ending of a legally valid marriage.

Southern Democrats who opposed desegregation and defended racial segregation.

The molecule that carries genetic information. Its structure is a double helix, resembling a twisted ladder.

A pattern produced by analysing selected parts of a person's DNA, which can be compared with DNA recovered from a crime scene.

The religious beliefs officially taught by a Church.

A Company policy used to annex Indian states when their ruler died without an heir recognised by the Company.

A written record that historians use to investigate the past, such as a royal grant, letter or newspaper article.

The examination of an Athenian official’s eligibility before entering office.

The ‘stab-in-the-back’ accusation that civilian politicians had betrayed Germany by accepting defeat. It was a nationalist claim, not an established fact.

The written record of William I’s survey, ordered in December 1085 and carried out in 1086, recording landholders, resources and land values to support royal government.

The investigation of landholding and resources ordered by William I at Christmas 1085 and carried out in 1086.

Paid employment in another person’s household, carrying out tasks such as cooking, cleaning and laundry.

The belief that if one country became communist, neighbouring countries would follow, like a row of falling dominoes.

The public distribution of royal titles and territories to Cleopatra and her children by Antony at Alexandria in 34 BC; some allocations were claims to lands not yet conquered.

The Defence of the Realm Act, which gave the British government emergency powers during the First World War.

A spy who appears to serve one side while secretly working for its opponent.

The expectation that women would perform paid work while remaining responsible for housework and family care.

The combined burden of paid employment and unpaid work at home, such as cooking, cleaning and childcare.

A manoeuvre in which an army attacks around both sides of an enemy formation, enclosing it rather than only confronting it from the front.

A short, close-fitting jacket worn by men, made from materials ranging from wool and leather to expensive fabrics.

A wartime campaign calling for victory over the Axis powers overseas and victory over racial discrimination at home.

Property or money provided as part of a marriage settlement.

Compulsory recruitment into the armed forces; also called conscription.

A mounted infantry soldier who uses a horse to reach a position but normally dismounts to fight.

Mounted soldiers who could dismount to fight with firearms.