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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. |
| 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; small evergreen trees and low bushes, or scrubs. |
| 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. |
| reservior | 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. |
| 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 north African city; usually centered around a mosque. |
| souk | a market in 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 of through human intervention. |
| refugee | a person who flees his or her country to escape danger of 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 Untied Nations that provides loans to countries for development projects. |
| international monetary fund | an agency of the United Nations that provides loans to counties 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 soldiers hired by a foreign country. |
| bater | 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 or food or an unbalanced diet. |
| strategic value | importance of a place of 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. |
| ethoncracy | 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 bu the international community to punish a country for unacceptable behaviors. |
| encalve | a country completely surrounded by another country. |
| white flight | the departure of white people from a region. |
| land redistribution | a policy bu which is taken form those who own large amounts and redistributed to those who have little or none. |