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World Geography
Chapter 24-27 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 elevation |
| Chaparral | a type of natural vegetation that is adapted to Mediterranean climates; small evergreen trees and low bushes or scubs |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| forage | food for grazing animals |
| shifting agriculture | the practice of farming a site until the soil is exhausted, then moving on to a new site. |
| 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 or entirely surrounded by land; cut off form 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 repecting and honoring one's ancestors will cause them to live on in spirit world after death |
| land redistribution | a policy by which land is taken from those who own large amounts and redistributed to those who have little or none |
| 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 states the provides loans to countries for development projects |
| structural adjustment program | a program to reform the structure of an econoy |
| watershed | a dividing ridge between two basins |
| mercenary | a professional solider hired by a foreign couhty |
| barter | The exchange of goods without money; |
| harambee | a policy of cooperation adopted in Kenya after independence to encourage economic grow |
| 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. |
| apartheid | formerly in the republic of south Africa, the policy of strict racial segregation |
| segregation | the separation of the race |
| 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 region |
| harambee | a policy of cooperation adopted in Kenya after independence to encourage economic growth |
| souks | a market in an arab community |
| caranvans | a large group of merchants who join together |
| medians | the old section of a north African city, usually centered around a mosque |