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Geography 94
Chapter 24, 25, 26, & 27 Vocabulary
| 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 (sing. fellah) |
| 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 |
| Desertfication | 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 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 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 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 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 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 county for unacceptable behaviors |
| Enclave | A country completely surrounded by another country |
| White Fight | 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 |