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 prodects |
plateau | an area of hugh, flat land |
escarpment | a steep cliff that separates two level areas of derringer elecations |
chaparral | a type of natural vegetation that is adapted to Mediterranean climates; small evergreen trees and low bushes, or scrubs |
savanna | a tropical grassland with scattered trees, located in the warm lands near the Eqauator |
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 |
fellaheen | Egyptian peasants |
sandstorm | a windstorm 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 time released to irrigate farmlands |
reservoir | the land that forms at the mouth of some rivers by soil that is dropped as the river slows and enters the sea |
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 | the 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 intil 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 |
desertification | the transformation of arable land into desert either naturally or through human intervention |
refugee | a person who flees his o 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 government often involving violent force or the threat of force |
ancestor worship | the belieg 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 eonomy |
watershed | a dividing ridge between two basins |
mercenary | a professional soldier hired by a foreign country |
barter | the exchange of goods without money |
harambee | a policy cooperation adopted in Kenya after independence to encourage economic growth |
pyrethrum | a pesticide produced from certain flowers |
malnutrition | disease caused by a lack of food or an unbalanced diet |
strategic value | importance of a place or thing for nations planning military actions |
ethnocracy | a system of government in which one ethnic group rules over others |
villagization | a political movement by which rural people are forced to move to towns ad work on collective farms |
apartheid | formerly in the republic of south Africa, the policy of strict racial segregation |
segregation | the separation of the raves |
sanction | an action taken by the international community punish a country for unacceptable behabiors |
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 who have little or none |