English Vocabulary in Use: Advanced Book with Answers and Enhanced eBook Vocabulary Reference and Practice 3rd Edition

Historical eras
In ancient Egypt, the 
Bronze Age began about 5,000 years ago. 
[period when the metals copper and tin 
began to be used to make weapons, tools, etc.; we also talk of the Stone Age, the Iron Age]
Life in 
medieval times was hard. 
[of or from the European Middle Ages, i.e. 1000–1500 AD]
I love the great 
Renaissance art of Italy. 
[period of new growth of interest and activity in the arts especially 
in Europe in the 14th to 16th centuries]
Magnificent architecture and works of art were created in Central America in
 the pre-colonial era. 
[period before Europeans arrived in large numbers and took power; 
opp
. = 
post-colonial
]
Military history
infantry: soldiers on foot (uncountable)
cavalry: soldiers on horseback (uncountable)
(suit of) armour: metal protective clothing worn by soldiers
chariot: two-wheeled vehicle pulled by a horse and used in ancient times for racing and war
galleon: large sailing ship with three or four masts, used in the 15th to 18th centuries
People
warlord: a military leader who controls a country or, more oft en, an area within a country
slave: person legally owned by someone else and who has to work for them (noun = slavery)
ruler: leader of a country
explorer: someone who travels to places that no one is thought ever to have visited, in order to find 
out what is there
merchant: someone who buys and sells things in large amounts, especially by trading with other 
countries
monarch: neutral term for a king or queen (a country with a king or queen at its head can also be 
called a 
monarchy)
the nobility: collective term for people of the highest social rank in a society