Society and institution 6

archaeologist

person who studies the material evidence of past societies

empire

group of countries ruled by a single person

kingdom

individual country ruled by a king or queen

dynasty

series of rulers from the same family, or the period when they rule

dawn

the beginning or early stages of something

reign

period that a king, queen or emperor rules

heir

person who is legally entitled to continue the work or position of someone who died

successor

person who takes over a position or role from another person

coronation

event when a king or queen receives their crown

conquest

when someone or an army defeats and takes over another country

manuscript

text written by hand rather than printed

peasant

person who works on the land, earns little, and has low social status

labourer

person who does unskilled manual work

migration

moving from one place to another in large numbers

shreds

very small amounts or tiny pieces of evidence

Bronze Age

period when copper and tin began to be used to make weapons and tools

medieval

of or from the European Middle Ages (approx. 1000–1500 AD)

Renaissance

period of new growth of interest and activity in the arts in Europe (14th–16th centuries)

pre-colonial

period before Europeans arrived in large numbers and took power

post-colonial

period occurring or existing after the end of colonial rule

infantry

soldiers who fight on foot

cavalry

soldiers who fight on horseback

suit of armour

metal protective clothing worn by soldiers in battle

chariot

two-wheeled vehicle pulled by a horse, used in ancient times for racing and war

galleon

large sailing ship with three or four masts, used in the 15th to 18th centuries

warlord

military leader who controls a country or area

slave

person legally owned by someone else who has to work for them

slavery

system or state of owning or being a slave

ruler

leader of a country or region

explorer

someone who travels to unvisited places to find out what is there

merchant

someone who buys and sells goods in large amounts, especially in international trade

monarch

neutral term for a king or queen

monarchy

country ruled by a king or queen

the nobility

collective term for people of the highest social rank in a society