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World Geography
Ch 24-27 Vocab
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 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 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 | 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 or entirely surrounded by land; cut off from 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 belief that respecting and honoring one's ancestors will cause them to live on 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 |
Mercentary | A professional soldier hired by a foreign country |
Barter | The exchange of goods without money |
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 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 |
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 |