Term | Definition |
Sahel | the region in africa just south of the sahara |
Colonialism | the system by which countries set up colonies to secure sources of raw materials and markets for their products |
plateau | an area of high flat land |
escarpment | a steep cliff that separates two level areas of differing elevations |
chaparral | a type of natural vegetation that is adapted to Mediterranean climates; small evergreen trees and low bushes or scrub |
savanna | a tropical grassland with scattered trees, located in the warm lands near the quator |
oral history | history passed down by word of mouth |
nomadic herding | the practice of moving flocks to different pastures throughout the year |
leaching | the dissolving and washing away of nutrients in the soil |
land degradation | reduction in the productive potential of the land |
population density | the average number of people living in a given area |
delta | the land that forms at the mouth of some rivers by soil that is dropped as the river slows and enters the sea |
felaheen | egyptian peasants |
sandstorm | a wind storm that blows hot air dust and grit |
bazaar | an open air market; a street lined with shops and stalls |
basin irrigation | in Egypt a system by which water and silt were controlled by embankments and released to irrigate farmlands |
reservoir | a natural or artificial lake used to collect water for human needs |
perennial irrigation | an irrigation system that provides necessary water to the land throughout the year |
capital | wealth in the form of money or property owned or used in business |
wadi | a usually dry riverbed or gully that temporarily holds water from a sudden downpour |
caravan | a large group of merchants who join together to travel in safety |
medina | he old section of a north african city usually centered around a mosque |
souk | a market in an Arab community |
shifting agriculture | the practice of farming a site until the soil is exhausted then moving on to a new site |
forage | food for grazing animals |
deforestation | the process of stripping the land of its trees |
desertificaton | the transformation of arable land into desert either naturraly of through human intervention |
refugee | a person who flees his or her country to escape danger or unfair treatment |
landlocked | almost or entirely surrounded by land; cut off from the sea |
inland delta | an area of lakes creeks and swamps away from the ocean |
coup | the sudden overthrow of a ruler or governement often involving violent force or the threat of force |
ancestor worship | the belief that respecting and honoring ones ancestors will cause them to live on in the spirit world after death |
animism | the religious belief that such things as the sky rivers and trees contain gods or spirits |
world bank | an agency of the united nations that provides loans to countries for development projects |
international monetary fund | an agency of the united nations that provides loans to countries for development projects |
structural adjustment program | a program to reform the structure of an economy |
watershed | a dividing ridge between two basins |
mercenary | a professional soldier hired by a foreign country |
barter | the exchange of gods without money |
harambee | policy of cooperation adopted in kenya after independence to encourage economic growth |
pyrethrum | a pesticide produced from certain flowers |
malnutrition | disease caused by lack of food or an unbalanced diet |
strategic value | importance of a place or thing for nations planning military actions |
villagization | a political movement by which rural people are forced to move to towns and work on collective farms |
ethnocracy | a system of government in which one ethnic group rules over others |
aparhteid | formerly in the republic of south africa the policy of strict racial segregation |
segregation | the separation of the races |
sanction | an action taken by the international community to punish a country for unacceptable behaviors |
enclave | a country completely surrounded by another country |
white flight | the departure of white people from a region |
land redistribution | a policy by which land is taken from those who own large amounts and redistributed to those wo have little or none |