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World Geography
Vocabulary Flashcards
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Alluvial soil | a fine-grained fertile soil deposited by water flowing over flood plains or in river beds. |
Wadi | a valley, ravine, or channel that is dry except in the rainy season. |
Phosphate | an effervescent soft drink containing phosphoric acid, soda water, and flavoring. |
Oasis | the branch of agriculture concerned with the raising of livestock. |
Ethnic diversity | to policies of promoting the maintenance of cultural diversity, to policies in which people of various ethnic and religious groups are addressed by the authorities as defined by the group . |
Infrastructure | the basic physical and organizational structures and facilities needed for the operation of a society or enterprise. |
Domesticate | tame and keep it as a pet or for farm produce. |
Culture hearth | Cultural hearths are civilizations that have cultural influence around the world. |
Cuneiform | a system of writing first developed by the ancient Sumerians of Mesopotamia c. |
Hieroglyphics | characters in any system of writing in which symbols represent objects (such as tools, animals, or boats) and ideas. |
Monotheism | the doctrine or belief that there is only one God. |
Prophet | a person who speaks for God or a deity, or by divine inspiration. |
Mosque | a Muslim place of worship. |
Nationalism | patriotic feeling, principles, or efforts. |
Nationalize | transfer (a major branch of industry or commerce) from private to state ownership or control. |
Embargo | an official ban on trade or other commercial activity with a particular country. |
Ziggurat | were a form of temple common to the Sumerians, Babylonians and Assyrians of ancient Mesopotamia. |
Bedouin | a nomadic Arab of the desert. |
Bazaar | a market in a Middle Eastern country. |
Arable | used or suitable for growing crops. |
Commodity | a raw material or primary agricultural product that can be bought and sold, such as copper or coffee. |
Petrochemical | relating to or denoting substances obtained by the refining and processing of petroleum or natural gas. |
Gross domestic product | the total value of goods produced and services provided in a country during one year. |
Hajj | the fifth pillar of Islam is a pilgrimage to Mecca during the month of Dhu al-Hijja; at least once in a lifetime a Muslim is expected to make a religious journey to Mecca and the Kaaba |
Atlas Mountains | an Asian river; a tributary of the Euphrates River |
Caucasus Mountains | the mountain range in Caucasia between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea that forms part of the traditional border between Europe and Asia |
Arabian Peninsula | a peninsula between the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf; strategically important for its oil resources |
Persian Gulf | a war fought between Iraq and a coalition led by the United States that freed Kuwait from Iraqi invaders; 1990-1991 |
Sinai Peninsula | a peninsula in northeastern Egypt; at north end of Red Sea |
Anatolia | a peninsula in southwestern Asia that forms the Asian part of Turkey |
Dead Sea | a saltwater lake on the border between Israel and Jordan; its surface in 1292 feet below sea level |
Caspian Sea | a large saltwater lake between Iran and Russia fed by the Volga River; the largest inland body of water in the world |
Aral Sea | a lake to the east of the Caspian Sea lying between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan |
Nile River | the world's longest river (4150 miles); flows northward through eastern Africa into the Mediterranean; the Nile River valley in Egypt was the site of the world's first great civilization |
Tigris River | an Asian river; a tributary of the Euphrates River |
Euphrates River | a river in southwestern Asia; flows into the Persian Gulf; was important in the development of several great civilizations in ancient Mesopotamia |
Sahara | the world's largest desert (3,500,000 square miles) in northern Africa |
Rub’ al-Khali | a desert in southern Saudi Arabia |
Kara-Kum | a desert in Turkmenistan to the south of the Aral Sea |
Gulf of Aqaba | a northeastern arm of the Red Sea; between the Sinai Peninsula (Egypt) and Saudi Arabia |
Strait of Hormuz | a strategically important strait linking the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman |
Aswan High Dam | one of the world's largest dams on the Nile River in southern Egypt |