Vocabulary

50 Essential History Terms for TOEFL Success

Master these key historical vocabulary words to excel in history-related TOEFL passages and lectures.

March 17, 2025

8 min read

Why Academic Vocabulary Is Crucial for TOEFL Success

Have you ever wondered why some people take months to prepare for the TOEFL while others achieve their desired score in just a few weeks? The truth is that we all have different experiences in learning English. Some people have a strong academic background in the language—they may have attended high school in the US or earned a degree abroad. Others have learned English more informally by watching TV shows or following their favorite YouTube bloggers.

This difference in experience affects how familiar we are with academic vocabulary, which is one of the keys to scoring well on the TOEFL. You need academic vocabulary to understand reading passages, follow lectures, and write integrated essays. Without a solid foundation in this type of vocabulary, even the best TOEFL strategies won't get you very far.

The good news: Once you've covered the most common topics, your ability to understand lectures and reading passages will improve dramatically. Combine that with the right strategies and some practice, and you're well on your way to getting the score you need.

That's why we focus so much on vocabulary in our TOEFL preparation materials. You may feel overwhelmed by the number of words to learn, but trust us—the list of essential words isn't as long as it seems, and learning them is absolutely worth it.

Category 1: People in an Ancient City

Let's imagine a typical ancient city and the people who lived in it. Understanding these roles and positions will help you navigate history-related TOEFL passages with confidence.

Rulers and Their Court

Ruler: A person who leads a country, such as a king or queen.
Courtier: People who work in the royal court of a ruler. Courtiers have important roles such as advising the ruler, managing court events, or entertaining the royal family.
Count: A nobleman (like dukes, but less powerful) who owns land and has power over a region. Counts often serve a king or emperor.

Religious and Military Figures

Priest: People who work for a religion. They teach others how to pray and help people worship.
Colonel: A high-ranking officer in the army who is usually in charge of commanding a regiment or a large group of soldiers. A colonel is below a general but above a major or a captain in most armies.

Workers and Traders

Artisan: People who make things by hand, for example, pottery or jewelry.
Merchant: People who buy and sell goods to make money. In the past, merchants played an important role in trade, traveling to different places to exchange items such as spices, fabrics, or food.
Peasant: Farmers who work on land, usually for someone else like wealthy landowners, kings, or counts.

Diplomats and Invaders

Delegate: People chosen to represent others in meetings or decisions. Delegates can also act as messengers or negotiators between cities or kingdoms.
Invader: A person or army that enters another place to take control by force, often causing destruction in the area they invade.

Study Tip

Create flashcards for these terms and practice using them in sentences. This will help you not only recognize them in TOEFL passages but also use them correctly in your speaking and writing responses.

Try organizing the words by categories (as we've done here) to make them easier to remember. Research shows that grouping related words together improves retention.

Category 2: Exploration and Settlement

Let's explore terms related to the discovery and settlement of new lands, using the colonization of Canada as an example.

Original Peoples and Newcomers

Inhabitant: People who live in a particular place. The original inhabitants of Canada were the first people to live there.
Tribe: Groups of people who live together and share customs and beliefs.
Colonist: People who move to live in a new land and establish a colony there. For example, some of the first colonists to come to Canada were from Great Britain and France.

Ways of Life

Hunter-gatherer: People who get their food by hunting animals and gathering plants.
Nomadic: People who do not have a permanent home but move from place to place in search of food, water, and shelter. For example, nomadic tribes in Canada followed bison herds.
Herd: Groups of animals of the same species that live and travel together, such as cows or sheep.

Types of Settlements

Settlement: Places where people build homes and live. They can range from small villages to large cities.
Coastal settlement: Settlements located near the coast, typically by the ocean or a sea.
Inland settlement: Settlements located away from the coast, in the interior of a landmass.
Sedentary settlement: Places where people live permanently and don't move around.
Nomadic settlement: Temporary settlements that move from place to place.

Category 3: Conflict and Power

History is often marked by conflicts and power struggles. Here's a story that illustrates key terms related to conflict and revolution.

Oppression and Resistance

Oppression: When people are treated unfairly or even cruelly by those in power over a long period of time.
Seize power: To take control of the government, often by force.
Exploit: To use something or someone unfairly for one's own benefit.

Revolution and Uprising

Revolt: To fight against a ruler or their laws or rules.
Uprising: When a group of people start fighting against the government or those in power because they're unhappy with the way things are.
Ally: To join with others for a common goal. It's like two friends getting together to help each other or work on a project together.

Conflict and Resolution

Upheaval: A big, sudden change or disturbance that causes a lot of confusion or trouble.
Invasion: When an army enters another place, usually to take control of it by force.
Defeat: To win against someone in a fight.
Conquer: To take control of a place or people by force, usually through fighting or war.
Surrender: To stop fighting and give up.

Aftermath

Restore: To bring something back to the way it was before.
Abolish: To get rid of something, like a law.
Reign: The period of time when a king, queen, or ruler is in power.

Practice Exercise

Try to use at least 10 of these history terms in a short paragraph about a historical event. This will help you become more comfortable using these words in context, which is essential for the TOEFL writing and speaking sections.

For example: "During the 18th century, colonists from Europe established settlements in North America. They often came into conflict with the inhabitants who had lived there for generations. Some tribes were nomadic, following herds of buffalo across the plains, while others lived in sedentary settlements. The rulers of European countries sent delegates to negotiate with tribal leaders, but misunderstandings often led to uprisings."

Wrapping Up: The Power of Vocabulary in TOEFL Preparation

Learning the right vocabulary for the TOEFL can make a big difference in your score. By focusing on the most important terms like the ones we covered today, you'll improve your performance in all sections: reading, listening, writing, and even speaking.

Remember that scoring 100+ on the TOEFL isn't rocket science—it's the little things you do that make all the difference. Building your academic vocabulary is one of those crucial steps that will set you up for success.

Pro Tip: Create a study schedule that includes reviewing 10-15 new vocabulary words each day. Within a few weeks, you'll have mastered all the essential history terms and be well on your way to TOEFL success.

If you found this article helpful, be sure to check out our other vocabulary resources and TOEFL preparation materials. With the right tools and consistent practice, you'll be well-equipped to achieve your target TOEFL score.