Glossary


A abolished stopped or ended something by law 110


alliances agreements in which countries agree to help one another 158


allies countries that support each other 129


anemometer the instrument that measures wind speed 61


archduke an important position or rank that is passed down through a royal family (like a prince or duke) 160


armistice an agreement to stop fighting; a ceasefire 175


assassinated killed someone for a political reason 160


atmosphere the layers of gases surrounding the earth 23


axis the imaginary line through the centre of the earth, around which the earth rotates 16


B balance of power which country or group has power or control 86


blockading a line of ships preventing people and goods from going in or out 175


Boer republic independent state set up by Dutch-speaking trekkers from the Cape 37


borders lines between two countries 122 boycotted stayed away from or refuse to use something 84


C campaign organised series of actions to achieve a purpose 172


capitalism an economic system in which property and industry are owned privately for profit 36


cash crops crops that are grown to sell rather than to feed the farmer’s family 123


climate graphs graphs that show the temperature and rainfall of a specific place over a number of months or years 64


colonies areas of land taken over and controlled by another country 35


commercial farms farms operated as a business 28


commuters people travelling a long way from home to work every day 147


compounds buildings for mine workers to live in 72


conscription compulsory military service 162


condenses happens when a gas cools down and changes into a liquid 50


conscientious objectors those who refuse to serve in the army because they believe it is morally wrong 163


constant supply a store or an amount of something you need being available all the time 74


constructed features things that have been made by people 100


container ship a ship that carries large boxes with goods between different countries 15


convicts those who have been convicted of a crime; criminals 33


co-ordinates sets of letters and numbers that you use to find the exact position of something (on a map) 8


corrugated iron a piece of metal shaped in alternating grooves and ridges 39


cottage industries workshops at home 30 court-martialled summonsed to appear in front of a military court 163


cud partially digested food regurgitated from the stomach of cattle 166


currency system of money (for example, rand, pound, euro, dollar) 77


D


debased humiliated and treated inhumanely 73


defeated losing to your enemy in a war 74 democratic when the people can all choose the leaders of a country or organisation and decide on the way it is organised 35


drilling bits tools that can be used for making deep holes 41


discriminated treated people differently and unfairly 84


dynamite powerful explosive used to blow up rocks 79


E economic growth how much business and trade grows, also means people or the government are making more money 29


element an important part of something 60


empire a group of countries or colonies ruled by one person (king/emperor) or one government 35


engineers people who are responsible for planning structures like roads, bridges, buildings 28


entente a French word meaning alliance 158


epidemic a disease that spreads quickly 31


equator the longest line of latitude, 0º 8 equinox mid-spring and mid-autumn day when there is 12 hours day and 12 hours night throughout the world 19


escarpment a long steep slope that separates an area of high ground from an area of low ground 54


ethnic connected with a group of people who share a cultural tradition 105


exile being forced to leave your place of birth for political reasons 75


exploited workers being treated badly and not paid as much as they deserve 33


explorers people who go to investigate an area that is new to them 121


explosives materials that could blow up easily 170


export goods made in one country and sold in another, or selling things to another country 37


F firing squad a group of soldiers who are given the job of shooting a prisoner who has been found guilty and condemned to death 163


Five-Nines 5.9 calibre explosive shells (used in war) 166


flares things that produce bright lights or flames, used as a signal 166


front where the fighting between two armies takes place 161


G gales very strong winds 61 go-betweens agents who arrange business deals between buyers and sellers of trade goods 127


gold deposits places where gold is found deep in the ground 76


governor the most senior British official who ruled the colony on behalf of the British government 42


Greenwich meridian 0º longitude passing through Greenwich 8


H heir someone who inherits something, in this case, the next person in the royal family to take over as king or emperor 160


Glossary 189


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