Term | Definition |
Sahel | the region in Africa just south of the Sahara |
Colonialism | the system bu 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 vegation that is adapted to Mediterranean climates; small evergreen trees and low bushes, or scrubs. |
Savanna | a tropical grassland wt scattered trees located in the warm land near the Equator. |
Oral History | history passed down by word of mouth. |
Nomadic Herding | the practice of moving flock 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 peole 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. |
Sanstorm | 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 bu which water and silt were controlled by embankments and time-released to irrigate farmlands. |
Resvoir | 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 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 entirely surrounded by land; cut off from the sea. |
Inland Delta | an area of lakes, creeks, and swamps away form the ocean. |
Coup | the sudden over throw of a ruler or government, often involving violent force or the threat of force. |
Ancestor Warship | 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 for 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 tow 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. |
Villagiation | 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. |
Segrgation | the separation of the races. |
Sanction | an action taken by the international community to punish an country for unacceptable behaviors. |
Enclave | a country completely surrounded by another country. |
White Flight | the departure of white people form 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. |