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Chapter 24-27 Vocab.
Term | Definition |
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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 goods. |
Plateau. | An area of high, flat land. |
Escarpment. | 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 scrub. |
Savanna. | A tropical grassland with scattered trees, located in the warm lands near the Equator. |
Oral history. | History passed down by the 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-release 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 a North African city, usually centered around a mosque. |
Souk. | A market in an Arab country. |
Shifting agriculture. | The practice of farming a suite 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 escapes his or her country to escape danger or unfair treatment. |
Landlocked. | Almost surrounded entirely 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 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 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 range 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 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 when 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 farms. |
Apartheid. | Formerly in the Republic of South Africa, the policy of strict racial segregation. |
Segregation. | The separation of 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 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. |