Make sure you understand the terms you use. If the word or term you need is not in the list below, use an online dictionary like Wordsmyth.

Cauterisation: This was a way to seal wounds using a red hot poker.

Economic change: This is related to how people make their living. Factors, for example, that influence the cost of things, trade, labour and employment.

Leeches: These are small slug-like animals that suck blood from other animals. During the middle ages people believed that some diseases were caused by having too much blood. Leeches were used to take away some of the excess blood.

Oriental: adjective. Of or from an Asian country.

Political change: This is related to the making of laws. Factors that involve power and control. For example, change in government, breakdown of law and order etc.

Social change: This is to do with the relationships between class, gender and religion. It could also include the level of education as well. In other words, changes in the way of the life of people. For example, the people on the manor lost their jobs, there was a dramatic decline in population.