History Terms – Glossary
Autobiography – An individual’s account of his or her life
Artifact – A material object of a culture such as a tool, an article of clothing or a prepared food
Archive – An accumulation of historical documents and records, or the physical repository in which they are located
Archaeology – The study of human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the analysis of physical remains
Anthropology – The study of humanity, culturally and physically, in all times and places. Forensic anthropology is the application of anthropological knowledge and techniques in a legal context, to detect crime and identify criminals. This involves detailed knowledge of osteology
Annals – Historical accounts of facts and events ranged in chronological order, year by year
Anachronism – a chronological inconsistency, in particular the introduction of an object, linguistic term, technology, idea, or anything else into a period in time to which it does not belong
Abstract – A summary of a textual source
Absolute Monarchy – A system of government headed by a monarch as the only source of power controlling all functions of the state
Architectural history – The study of buildings in their historical and stylistic contexts