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. |
Plateaus | An area of high, flat land. |
Escarpments | A steep cliff that separates two level areas of differing elevations. |
Chaparral | A type of natural vegetation that is adapted to Mediterranean climates; |
Savanna | A tropical grassland with scattered trees, located in the warm lands near the Equator. |
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 farm lands. |
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 | 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 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. |
Desertification | The transformation of arable land into desert either naturally or through human intervention. |
Refugee | A person who flees his or her country to escape danger or unfair treatment. |
Landlocked | Almost 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 wosrhip | The belief that respecting and honoring one's 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 the provides loans to countries for development projects. |
Structural adjustment program | A program to reform the structure of an economy. |
Harambee | A policy of 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 and work on collective farms. |
Apartheid | 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 who have little or none. |
Watershed | A dividing range between two basins. |
Mercenary | A professional soldier hired by a foreign country. |
Barter | The exchange of goods without money. |