Talking about History: English Vocabulary List

the formal ceremony or event during which a monarch or sovereign is officially crowned and invested with regal authority

"The coronation was a grand ceremony."

"A coronation is the formal ceremony where a monarch is crowned and invested with regal authority"

a large medieval Mediterranean vessel, typically with a single deck, propelled by sails and oars, armed at bow and stern, and manned by up to 1,000 men, used for war and trade

"The galley had many rowers."

"The ancient galley was a long, powerful ship used for both trade and war in the Mediterranean."

something occurring at a time when it could not have existed or happened

"The smartphone in the movie was an anachronism."

"The film contained an anachronism when a character used a modern device in a historical setting."

a period in Western Europe (1871-1914) marked by peace, optimism, and cultural growth

"The Belle Epoque was a peaceful time."

"The Belle Epoque was a period of peace optimism and cultural flourishing in Europe before World War One."

an extinct hominid species closely related to modern humans, characterized by a robust build and distinctive facial features, that lived in Europe and parts of Asia until approximately 40,000 years ago

"Neanderthals lived in Europe long ago."

"A Neanderthal was an extinct species of archaic human that lived in Eurasia until about forty thousand years ago"

the branch of science that studies fossils

"Paleontology is the study of ancient life through fossils and old bones."

"Paleontology helps us understand ancient life by studying fossils from millions of years ago."

the defining spirit or mood of a particular period in history, reflecting the ideas and beliefs of the time

"The zeitgeist of the sixties was all about peace"

"The zeitgeist of the 1960s was defined by a strong desire for peace and freedom."

to record a series of historical events in a detailed way by a chronological order

"He chronicled his travels in a diary."

"The famous historian spent twenty years to chronicle the rise and fall of the ancient Roman empire."

an object or part of an object surviving from the past, typically with historical or emotional value, often linked to a person, event, or era

"The relic is very old and valuable."

"A relic is a surviving object or artifact from a past age"

a lineage of kings who rule a country or nation over a long period of time

"The Ming Dynasty ruled China for almost three hundred long years."

"A dynasty is a powerful succession of rulers from the same family line"

a medieval military expedition by European Christians to reclaim or defend Christian territories in the Holy Land

"The crusade had religious goals."

"The crusade was a long and difficult journey to reclaim the Holy Land for Christianity."

the process by which colonies or territories gain independence from colonial rule

"Decolonization gave independence to many countries."

"Decolonization led to the independence of many African and Asian countries during the twentieth century."