History key terms

The Palestine Liberation Organisation: an umbrella organisation of Palestinian groups seeking Palestinian national liberation, chaired by Yasser Arafat from February 1969.

A secret plan by a group to carry out an action such as overthrowing or assassinating a ruler.

Goods taken by soldiers from people or places during warfare; the term also describes the act of taking them.

Holding more than one Church office at the same time.

A form of plague affecting the lungs which can spread between people through infectious respiratory droplets.

Hunting or taking game animals without permission from whoever holds the hunting rights.

Specialist merchants who organised long-distance trade, particularly in luxury goods, in the Aztec world.

A violent attack on a Jewish community.

An American submarine-launched ballistic missile system carrying nuclear warheads, first deployed operationally in 1960.

An Athenian official who initially held overall command of the army, above the ten tribal generals.

A neighbourhood-based support worker who assists the police through visible patrols, community contact and work against anti-social behaviour, with more limited powers than a police constable.

Repeated actions by police that intimidate or unfairly target individuals or a community.

A national computer system introduced in 1974 that allows police to access and share records, including information about vehicles and missing persons.

A state in which police and security organisations exercise extensive powers to monitor, intimidate and punish people, without effective protection of individual rights.

The work of enforcing the law, preventing crime and investigating offences.

Stresemann’s approach of cooperating with the post-war settlement to build trust and negotiate concessions for Germany.

A modern description of Alexander’s measures to bring Macedonian and Iranian elites together. It should not be taken to mean that he achieved equal treatment or complete integration.

A Greek city-state: a political community consisting of a city and its surrounding territory.

The strip of territory established by the Versailles settlement to give Poland access to the sea, separating East Prussia from the rest of Germany.

A law that enabled Polish people connected with the armed forces to remain and work in Britain after the Second World War and supported their settlement.

The small group of senior Communist Party leaders that made the most important political decisions in the Soviet Union.

Activity intended to influence political decisions or opinion, including spreading arguments, organising support and challenging government policies.

A Bolshevik political official attached to a military unit to supervise loyalty and promote the party’s aims.

The process of strengthening a government's authority and reducing challenges to its rule.

An effect on government, laws, political participation or the exercise of power.

The ability of a state to make its own decisions without control by another state.

A marriage arranged to strengthen political relationships, alliances or a ruler’s position.

Organising people to take collective political action, such as campaigning, petitioning or protesting.

People or groups who challenge the government’s policies or conduct.

A political grouping whose members cooperate to influence government and secure support in Parliament.