Enslaving the millions: a glossary |
| aristocracies | government by a herditary ruling class, sometimes referred to as the nobility |
| avarice | greediness, normally for money or wealth |
| Barbary (Barbary Coast) | region of Northern Africa between Egypt and the Atlantic Ocean |
| ceded | to give up or surrender |
| delinquents | wrong-doers, people who break the law |
| democracies | government by the people, normally through elected representatives (such as MPs) |
| depredations | attacks, raids |
| despotism | government in which the ruler exercises absolute power |
| fortitude | strength of mind which gives a person courage |
| governor | person appointed to run a colony |
| hedonistic | devoted to pleasure |
| imputed | blamed, given responsibility for. In this case, accused. |
| legislation | laws |
| lobby | trying to influence people who make the laws |
| merchant adventurers | people seeking to make a fortune |
| Monarchies | government by a king or queen (or equivalent) |
| natives | indigenous people, people already living in a place, region or country |
| polygamy | having more than one spouse (husband or wife) at a time |
| recollected | remembered |
| resignation | acceptance of a situation |
| Senegal | a country on the West Coast of Africa |
| systematic | methodical, done step-by-step |
| waned | decreased gradually |
