Terms and Definitions
Aborigine
the earliest inhabitants of a land or country; typically used to refer to the indigenous people of Australia
acid rain
precipitation with a high level of acidity that environmentally harmful and caused by atmospheric pollution
age distribution
the percentage of a total population at different age levels
agricultural terracing
the practice of altering sloped land to create flat steps used for farming
alluvial soil
fertile soil and sediment that is deposited by a flowing river
Alps
a major mountain range located on the European continent
Altiplano
a highland plateau located at the widest point of the Andes Mountains of South America; second-largest highland plateau in the world
ancestor worship
a cultural practice in which prayer, sacrifice, or other rituals and behaviors are intended to honor deceased ancestors
Andes
a mountain range and physical region in western South America; the world’s longest above-water mountain range
apartheid
a system of laws in South Africa that segregated the population based on race
Appalachians
a mountain range and physical region in eastern North America; the Appalachians mark the Eastern Continental Divide of North America
archipelago
a chain or group of islands
Atacama
the driest desert in the world; located on the western coast of South America
atoll
an island of coral that partially or completely surrounds a lagoon
Australasia
a sub-region of Oceania that includes Australia and smaller nearby islands
Aztec
a Mesoamerican civilization located in the Valley of Mexico in central Mexico
Balkanization
the breakup of a state into smaller nations or territories; political divisions based on ethnic, religious, or cultural identity
basin
a large, low depression of land
batik
a technique used to dye fabrics commonly practiced in Southeast Asia; the practice originated in Indonesia
bazaar
a traditional marketplace found in North Africa and Southwest Asia; generally contains a variety of shops, vendors, and entertainers; also known as a souk (suq)
Berber
an ethnic group and language that is indigenous to North Africa
birth rate
the average number of people born in a population per year; represented as a number per 1,000 people
Buddhism
a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, also known as the Buddha; addresses suffering through the Four Noble Truths and sets forth the Eightfold Path as the way to overcome desire and end suffering
calligraphy
ornate lettering that is written by hand for decorative purposes
calypso
a Caribbean musical genre that blends African and French influences; roots can be traced back to slave communities in Trinidad and Tobago
Canadian Shield
a landform region that covers much of eastern and central Canada; characterized by taiga forests and ancient bedrock that is rich with mineral deposits
canal
a man-made waterway built for transportation or irrigation
capital resources
goods that are used to produce other goods and services; includes tools, equipment, machines, technology, and infrastructure
cartography
the practice of making maps
cataract
a type of waterfall that is very large and powerful
Caucasus
a mountain range located between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea
channel
a body of water that connects two larger bodies of water; wider than a strait
chernozem
a dark, fertile type of soil found in Russia, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe; means "black earth" in Russian
Christianity
a monotheistic religion that was developed out of Judaism; based on the teaching of Jesus of Nazareth and scripture from the Bible
church
a Christian place of worship
climate
the average weather conditions of an area over a period of time; characteristics include features like humidity, rainfall, wind, and temperature
coastal plain
a flat, low-lying area of land that is located next to an ocean or large body of water and separated from the interior by mountains or other landforms
Cold War
a period of political hostility between the United States and the Soviet Union; neither side ever officially declared war or attacked
command economy
an economic system in which production, prices, and other aspects of the economy are centrally controlled by the government
communism
a political system in which all property is publically owned; based on the ideas of Karl Marx
comparative advantage
a nation or region’s ability to produce goods and services at a lower relative cost than other nations or regions
confluence
the location where two or more bodies of water meet, like where a tributary combines with a river
Confucianism
a system of ethics based on the teachings of the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius; main tenets include belief that humans are good, respect for elders, politeness, right relationships, emphasis on education, and ancestor worship
continental divide
an elevated terrain that forms a boundary separating river systems that flow to different sides of a continent
coral reef
a rocky underwater ridge comprised of organic materials and coral
cultural diffusion
the spread of cultural characteristics, shared beliefs, and social activities from one group of people to another
cultural landscape
a geographic area modified by humans that reflects aspects of their culture; the result of a human population’s interaction with the physical environment
cultural mosaic
a term used to describe a place where people from different cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds are encouraged to maintain their cultural identity, rather than blend in with society
culture
characteristics of a group of people related to language, ethnicity, and religion, that make them unique from other groups of people
dam
barrier used to restrict the flow of water and raise its level, providing a water supply for consumption, irrigation, hydroelectric power, etc.
death rate
the average number of deaths in a population per year; represented as a number per 1,000 people
deforestation
the permanent clearing of a forest or trees; also called forest clearance
delta
a landform created at the mouth of a river from deposited sediment
Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)
a buffer area at the thirty-eighth parallel between North Korea and South Korea where neither country is allowed to have a military presence
demographics
statistical data related to different population characteristics
deposition
the process of sediment being deposited or added to a landform
desalination
process of removing dissolved minerals and salt from saltwater to produce freshwater that can be used for consumption or agriculture
desert
a vegetation region with such a small amount of precipitation that little to no vegetation survives
desert pavement
stony desert made up of a combination of densely packed gravel and sand; known as serir in the eastern Sahara and reg in the western Sahara
desertification
the transition of fertile land to a desert
developed nation
a country with a stronger economy, better infrastructure, and more advanced technology as compared to developing nations
developing nation
a country with a weaker economy, worse infrastructure, and less advanced technology as compared to developed nations
dike
a barrier or embankment used to control and prevent flooding
earthquake
the sudden shaking of the ground caused by the Earth’s crust breaking along a fault; this releases energy in the form of seismic waves
Eastern Ghats
a mountain range in India that runs parallel to the coast of the Bay of Bengal and is along the Deccan plateau
emigrant
a person who leaves their home country to permanently live in a different country
emir
a high title given to leaders in Arab countries that is similar to general, commander, or lord
emirate
a territory or state that is run by an emir
environmental degradation
deterioration or destruction of an environment’s air, water, soil, vegetation, or wildlife though excessive pollution and resource depletion; may result in the destruction of animal habitats, the contamination of resources, and severe health problems
erg
sandy desert with dunes made of loose sand; the sand dunes shift when the wind blows
erosion
sand, soil, and rock being gradually worn away by forces like wind, water, or glaciers
escarpment
a cliff with steep slopes that form where highland plateaus meet lowland plains
estuary
a partially enclosed coastal body of water fed by one or more rivers
ethnic cleansing
the elimination of an ethnic, religious, or cultural group through killing or forced migration
ethnicity
shared characteristics of a particular culture including ancestry, art, customs, food, history, language, nationality, and religion
eucalyptus
a type of evergreen tree native to Australia; its leaves are used in medicinal oils and its trunk is used for timber
Eurasia
a landmass formed by the continents of Europe and Asia; it extends from the Baltic and Black Seas in the west, and stretches east across northern Asia to the Pacific Ocean
Eurasian Steppe
a vast grassland region that spans the Eurasian landmass from the Black Sea to Northern China
Fabergé egg
ornate Easter eggs made of valuable metals and gemstones; created by the Russian jeweler Peter Carl Fabergé
fall line
an area where an upland region meets a lowland plain; rivers in these areas contain rapids or waterfalls
Fertile Triangle
the region in European Russia that contains rich chernozem soil; Russian agriculture and industry is concentrated here
fjord
a long and narrow inlet by the coast with steep sides; usually created by a glacier
Francophone
French-speaking
Gandhi, Mohandas
a political and spiritual leader during India’s struggle with Great Britain for independence; he led a campaign through civil disobedience
gauchos
cattle ranchers from the Pampas grasslands of South America
gender distribution
the percentages of a population that are male and female
genocide
the calculated extermination of a large group of people from a specific nation or race
geographic information systems (GIS)
an abbreviation for geographic information systems; uses computers, satellites, and other technology to obtain, store, display, and analyze various kinds of geographic data
glacier
a mass of ice that was developed from the accumulation of snow over many years, prompting the mass to slowly move
Great Lakes
a group of five freshwater lakes located in North America, between the United States and Canada; the collective name of Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario
Great Plains
a broad, flat physical region in North America characterized by vast areas of grassland vegetation
Great Rift Valley
a system of faults in East Africa formed by the separation of the African plate
Greater Antilles
a large archipelago in the northwestern Caribbean; includes the islands of Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico
Green Revolution
a period of agricultural advancement that occurred in South Asia and other developing countries during the mid-twentieth century; during this period the production of crops greatly increased
griot
a traditional African storyteller who maintains oral traditions and history
gross domestic product (GDP)
the value of the total amount of goods and services produced by a country annually
guest workers
temporary laborers from a foreign country that live and work in a host country for a set period of time
hacienda
the Spanish name for a large estate or plantation house
Himalayas
a massive mountain range that separates South Asia from the rest of the Asian continent
Hindu Kush
a major mountain range that divides Southwest Asia from South Asia
Hinduism
an ethnic religion rooted in India, with roughly 97% of its followers residing there; there are many gods in the Hindu faith, but these gods are believed to be different representations of Brahman, the one supreme god present in all things
human resources
the size and skill of a labor force or workforce in a particular region, sector, or company
hurricane
tropical cyclones that occur in either the Atlantic Ocean or eastern Pacific Ocean; these storms are characterized by strong winds and heavy rain; they generally occur between late summer and early autumn
icon
a painting, mosaic, or similar artwork that depicts a religious subject; part of the religious culture of Orthodox and Catholic Christianity
ideogram
a graphic symbol that stands for a word or idea, rather than a single sound
immigrant
a person who comes from a foreign country to live permanently in another country
Inca
an indigenous South American civilization located in the Andes Mountain region
infant mortality rate
the average number of children under one year old who die in a given year; represented as the number of deaths per 1,000 live births
infrastructure
the system of buildings, roads, and utilities that provide transportation, power, and communication
interdependence
the dependence of two or more nations on each other
Inuit
the indigenous people from parts of northern Canada, Alaska, and Greenland
invasive species
a non-native species that dominates an environment by replacing native species; generally have a negative impact on the environment
irrigation
a system used to dictate how much water gets to a particular location; supports crop production
Islam
a monotheistic Abrahamic religion, meaning it also traces its lineage back to the prophet Abraham; based on the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, and focuses on the Five Pillars of Islam, which include the profession of faith, prayer, fasting, charity for the poor, and pilgrimage to the city of Mecca
island
a piece of land surrounded by water
isolationism
a foreign policy focused on remaining uninvolved in the political affairs of other countries
Judaism
a monotheistic religion that began with the teachings of Abraham, the founder of the Israelites; the laws and teachings of Judaism are based on the first five books of the Jewish Bible, called the Torah
lagoon
a shallow body of water separated from an ocean or sea by coral reefs or a barrier island
landlocked
describes a country or region that is entirely surrounded by land and lacks coastal access or a navigable water route
Lesser Antilles
an archipelago of small islands located in the southeastern part of the Caribbean
life expectancy
the average number of years a person in a given area is expected to live
literacy rate
the percentage of a population that is able to read and write by a specified age
Llanos
a savannah grassland region in northern South America
loess
a dusty and loose type of soil that is fertile and yellowish-gray in color
Lucayan Archipelago
a group of small islands located north of the Greater Antilles; also called the Bahama Archipelago
Mandarin
the official language spoken in China; also known as Standard Chinese
Maori
the indigenous people of New Zealand
market economy
an economic system in which production, prices, and other aspects of the economy are determined by competition between privately-owned businesses
marsupial
mammals that are born incompletely developed and are carried and nourished in the mother’s abdominal pouch; includes kangaroos, koalas, wombats, and opossums
Matryoshka doll
hollow wooden dolls that decrease in size and nest inside one another; commonly known as Russian nesting dolls
Maya
indigenous Mesoamerican civilization located on the Yucatán Peninsula
Melanesia
an island sub-region of Oceania that is located south of the equator and northeast of Australia
melting pot
a term used to describe a place where people from different cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds are blended together as one
Micronesia
a sub-region of Oceania that is made up of thousands of small islands in the Pacific Ocean; located north of the equator and east of the Philippines
monotheism
the belief that there is only one God
monsoon
seasonal winds patterns that blow through Southern Asia, bringing heavy rains in the summer and cool dry air in the winter
mosque
an Islamic place of worship
Mount Kilimanjaro
the highest mountain peak in Africa; located in Tanzania
natural resources
materials that occur naturally in the environment and can be used for economic gain, like fossil fuels, minerals, fresh water, and fertile land
nomad
person or group that has no permanent settlement and continually moves from place to place; movements typically follow food, water, and other resources
nonrenewable resources
natural resources that replenish at an extremely slow rate and cannot be easily replace once consumed; includes resources like oil, coal, natural gas, gold, iron, copper, and bauxite
North Atlantic Drift
an ocean current that extends from the Gulf Stream and carries warm water across the Atlantic to northwestern Europe
oasis
a fertile area in the desert that has available water
Oceania
an island region located in the Central and South Pacific Ocean, includes Australasia, Micronesia, Melanesia, and Polynesia
oral tradition
cultural and historical traditions in a community that are passed down through word of mouth
Outback
the remote areas of Australia that are sparsely inhabited
overpopulation
a situation in which the number of people in a region is larger than the local environment is able to support
pagoda
a temple, funerary monument, or sacred building found in east Asia or India
Pampas
a fertile grassland region located in the southern part of South America, particularly in Argentina
pastoralism
a type of agriculture based on raising grazing livestock
Patagonia
a region in the southern part of South America with barren plateaus that shift between semiarid steppe and arid desert
peninsula
a piece of land surrounded by water on three sides
per capita GDP
the gross domestic product (GDP) of a country divided by the total population of the country
permafrost
the permanently frozen layer of soil that prevents most vegetation from growing; typically found in tundra climate regions
Piedmont
a plateau region located between the Appalachian Mountains and the Atlantic Coastal Plain in North America
plain
a large, flat area of land
plate tectonics
the concept that the Earth's crust consists of a number of rigid plates whose relative positions slowly alter over the time
plateau
a high plain with relatively flat terrain; often has one or more steep sides
polder
a stretch of low land reclaimed from the sea and enclosed by dikes
pollution
releasing damaging or toxic substances into the environment
Polynesia
the sub-region of Oceania that is made up of over one thousand islands; located in the Central Pacific Ocean, east of Melanesia and Micronesia
population growth rate
the percentage of annual growth in the total population of a country
precipitation
water in the atmosphere that falls to the surface as rain, snow, or hail
prevailing westerlies
powerful winds that blow from west to east in the middle latitudes
primary economic activity
economic activity that deals directly with the extraction of natural resources and raw materials from the Earth; includes industries like farming, fishing, forestry, logging, and mining
pull factor
the positive aspects of an area that encourage people to move or migrate there
push factor
the negative aspects of an area that force people to move or migrate to a different area
Pyrenees
a mountain range that separates the Iberian Peninsula from continental Europe; forms a natural border between Spain and France
quality of life
the health, happiness, and comfort of a population
quarternary economic activity
economic activity that is focused on collecting, processing, and manipulating information and capital; includes industries like administration, education, finance, insurance, legal services, and scientific research
rainforest
a vegetation region characterized by dense tropical evergreen trees and regular heavy rainfall
reg
the term used to describe desert pavement or stony desert in the western Sahara
reggae
a Caribbean musical genre influenced by calypso, Jamaican folk music, American jazz, and rhythm and blues; originated in Jamaica during the 1960s
renewable resource
a natural resource that is able to replenish quickly and naturally; includes resources like water, soil, forests, wind, and sunlight
reservoir
an artificial lake where water is stored for consumption, irrigation, or power generation
Ring of Fire
a continuous chain of oceanic trenches, island arcs, and active volcanoes that surround the Pacific Ocean
Rockies
a mountain range and physical region in western North America; mark the Great Continental Divide of North America
romance language
a language that is originally derived from Latin
rural
related to or classified as the countryside, rather than the city
Sahel
a semiarid region that serves as a buffer between the arid climate of the Sahara and the tropical wet and dry climate of the African savanna
savanna
a vegetation region characterized by tropical grasslands, scattered trees, and wet and dry seasons
secondary economic activity
economic activity that manufactures or processes goods from the raw material and natural resources extracted by the primary sector; includes industries like automobile factories, construction, engineering, saw mills, and steel mills
serir
term used to describes desert pavement or stony desert in the eastern Sahara
Shintoism
an ethnic religion of Japan; followers practice ancestor worship and believe in a sacred essence that exist throughout nature
Siberia
large region of Asian Russia located east of the Ural Mountains; translates to “the sleeping land”
Sierra Madres
a collection of three different Mexican and Central American mountain ranges including the Sierra Madre Occidental, the Sierra Madre Oriental, and the Sierra Madre del Sur; the Sierra Madres are part of the Great Continental Divide and connect the Rocky Mountains of North America with the Andes Mountains of South America
site
the actual location of a city; based on local physical characteristics of where a city is located
situation
the relative location of a city; based on where a city is in relation to something else, like geographic features, regions, resources, or transport routes
slash-and-burn agriculture
the practice of cutting down and burning forest and natural vegetation to create farmland
souk (suq)
traditional marketplace found in North Africa and Southwest Asia; generally contains a variety of shops, vendors, and entertainers; also known as a bazaar
sovereignty
the authority of a state to act independently and make its own laws without outside interference
squatter settlement
poor housing built illegally on land owned by another party; also called slums, shanty towns, and favelas
standard of living
the average level of material benefits of a society
steppe
a vegetation region characterized by large treeless areas of flat grassland; typically found in humid continental and semiarid climates
strait
a narrow channel of water that connects two larger bodies of water
Strait of Gibraltar
a narrow strait that connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea
stupa
a dome-shaped Buddhist shrine
subcontinent
a large landmass that is joined to a larger continent
subsistence farming
farming livestock and crops in a capacity that supports the farmer and his/her family rather than providing a surplus for sale and profit
synagogue
a Jewish house of worship
taiga
a vegetation region characterized by vast coniferous evergreen forests; typically found in subarctic climate regions
Taoism
a Chinese philosophical system based on the writings of Lao Tzu; teaches that peace, harmony, and health can be achieved by following the Dao, which means “the way”
temperature
the coldness or warmth of an object or substance based on a measurement scale such as Fahrenheit, Celsius, or Kelvin
tertiary economic activity
economic activity that sells goods and services to businesses and the public; includes industries like retail trade, transportation, healthcare, media, and information technology services
tierra caliente
a vertical zone in Latin America with a tropical climate; located just above sea level
tierra fria
a vertical zone in Latin America with a cool climate; located above the tierra templada
tierra helada
a vertical zone in Latin America with a cold climate, grass, and no trees; located above the tierra fría
tierra nevada
a vertical zone in Latin America with a freezing climate, snow, and ice; located above the tierra helada
tierra templada
a vertical zone in Latin America with a warm climate; located above the tierra caliente
tornado
a destructive swirling windstorm over land that is characterized by its funnel-shape
Trans-Siberian Railway
an expansive railway network that spans Russia and connects Moscow with the eastern part of the country
tsar
an emperor of Russia; also spelled tzar and czar
tsunami
a tidal wave caused by an underwater earthquake or eruption that occurred under the ocean
tundra
a vegetation region characterized by consistently cold temperatures, a lack of trees, and permafrost
typhoon
a tropical cyclone that develops in the Western Pacific Ocean
Urals
a mountain range in Russia that divides Europe and Asia
urban
related to or classified as the city, rather than the countryside
urban sprawl
the expansion of a city into the surrounding area, which results in the conversion of agricultural land to urban use; characterized by poor planning, low-density housing, and a reliance on automobiles for transportation
vertical zonation
agricultural zones in a highland region that vary based on elevation
volcano
a vent in the earth’s crust out of which lava, rock, ash, and gas pass through
wadi
a dry valley or riverbed that is fills with water during the rainy season
wat
a Buddhist religious complex
weather
the short-term temperature and precipitation of a location
Western Ghats
a mountain range in southern India that borders the Arabian Sea, and is along the Deccan plateau
yurt
a circular tent covered in felt or hides; traditionally used by nomadic people in Central Asia