History key terms

The organisation formed on 5 December 1955 to coordinate the Montgomery Bus Boycott, with Martin Luther King as its president.

An offence involving behaviour that authorities regarded as sinful or contrary to accepted standards of conduct.

The confidence and willingness of people or armed forces to keep going, especially during hardship or fighting.

The use of peaceful persuasion, organisation and petitions to press for political change.

An interpretation which explains behaviour through judgements about virtues, faults and self-control.

Attempts to change behaviour according to religious standards, including action against drunkenness, swearing and certain popular entertainments.

Members of a Christian religious movement founded by Joseph Smith in 1830.

Land held by a continuing institution, particularly the Church, rather than an individual who would eventually die. The term means ‘dead hand’.

A picture or pattern made by arranging small pieces of stone, tile or glass, often used to decorate floors.

A Nazi award honouring eligible mothers of large families, with bronze, silver and gold levels according to the number of children.

A reason for acting; in an assassination investigation, a motive explains why someone might want the ruler dead but does not prove involvement.

The earth mound supporting the keep in a motte-and-bailey castle.

A castle with a raised earth mound, called a motte, and an enclosed courtyard, called a bailey.

A castle consisting of a tower on a raised earth mound, the motte, and an enclosed courtyard, the bailey. Early Norman examples commonly used timber.

A heavily equipped warrior trained to fight on horseback, usually drawn from wealthy landowning society.

Possessions that could be moved, such as livestock and other goods, rather than land or buildings.

A worker who swept streets and removed rubbish and waste.

The ruling family established in India by Babur in 1526, whose emperors gradually expanded Mughal power.

A small, finely detailed painting associated with the Mughal court, often made on paper for an illustrated manuscript or an album.

The Muslim ruling dynasty that established an empire in India in 1526 and expanded it under emperors including Akbar.

Officials appointed to supervise public morals and enforce rules on conduct, including restrictions on public drinking and gambling.

A community in which people with different cultural backgrounds live alongside one another.

A society in which people with different cultural backgrounds, traditions and identities live alongside one another.

A society containing established communities of people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds.

The September 1938 agreement through which Britain, France, Germany and Italy allowed Germany to take the Sudetenland.

Weapons, ammunition and other military equipment.

A collective fine imposed on the local community when a Norman was murdered and the killer was not handed over.

A collective fine imposed on the local community when a murdered Norman’s killer was not caught.

An infantry soldier armed with a musket, a long-barrelled gun loaded through its muzzle.

A refusal by members of the armed forces to obey their officers’ orders.