Term | Definition |
Sahel | The regionof 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 lands |
Escarpment | A steep cliff that seperates two level areas of two differing elevations |
Chaparral | A typemof 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 lassed 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 tha forms at the mouth of some rivers by soil that is dropped as the river slows and enters the sea |
Fellaheen | Egyptian pesants |
Sansdstorm | A windstorm that bows 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 embarkments 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 north african city usually centered around a mosque |
Souk | A market 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 transormation of arable land into desert either naturally or through human interventiom |
Refugee | A person who flees his or her country to escape danger or unfair treatment |
Landlocked | Almost or entirely sirrounded 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 ones ancestors will cause them to live in the spirit world after death |
Animism | The religious belief that such things as the sky rivers and trees contain gods and spirits |
World bank | Am agency of the united nations that provides loans to countries for development orojects |
Internationaly monetary fund | an agency of the United Nations that provides loans to countries for development programs |
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 pestacide 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 governmetn in which one ethnic group rules over others |
apartheid | formerly in the Republic of south Africa, the policy of strict racial segregation |
segregation | the seperation 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 religion |
land redistibution | a policy by which land is taken from those who won large amount and redistributed to those who have little or none. |