Glossary

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Glossary Entries

Word(s)	Definition	Image	Caption	Link	Source
Aborigines	People native to Australia when the European colonialists arrived.
Aborigines	People native to Australia when the European colonialists arrived.
Absolute location	An exact point on the earth’s surface that can be identified by latitude and longitude.
Absolute location	An exact point on the earth’s surface that can be identified by latitude and longitude.
acid rain	When nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide mix with water molecules in the atmosphere to create acidic precipitation.
acid rain	When nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide mix with water molecules in the atmosphere to create acidic precipitation.
African Diaspora	The disbursement of people with an African heritage to other parts of the world mainly through the slave trade.
African Diaspora	The disbursement of people with an African heritage to other parts of the world mainly through the slave trade.
African Union	Agreements in 2001 between African states to form a united body to focus on issues within the African continent.
African Union	Agreements in 2001 between African states to form a united body to focus on issues within the African continent.
Afrikaners	The Dutch-based settlers of Southern Africa during the colonial era who were originally known as the Boers.
Afrikaners	The Dutch-based settlers of Southern Africa during the colonial era who were originally known as the Boers.
agrarian revolution	Post-Renaissance agricultural transformation that introduced new technology, crops, and land reforms that greatly enhanced agricultural production in Europe.
agrarian revolution	Post-Renaissance agricultural transformation that introduced new technology, crops, and land reforms that greatly enhanced agricultural production in Europe.
Al Jazeera	International news agency based in Qatar.
Al Jazeera	International news agency based in Qatar.
al-Qaeda	Anti-Western terrorist group founded by Osama bin Laden.
al-Qaeda	Anti-Western terrorist group founded by Osama bin Laden.
Alawite	Minority religious group that is an offshoot from Shia Islam and has controlled Syria for decades.
Alawite	Minority religious group that is an offshoot from Shia Islam and has controlled Syria for decades.
altiplano	Spanish term for “valley.” The Altiplano in South America is the region located around Lake Titicaca between two ranges of the Andes.
altiplano	Spanish term for “valley.” The Altiplano in South America is the region located around Lake Titicaca between two ranges of the Andes.
altitudinal zonation	Vertical environmental zones that change with altitude in mountainous regions.
altitudinal zonation	Vertical environmental zones that change with altitude in mountainous regions.
American Dream	The belief that through hard work a person can achieve upward mobility and financial success, no matter his or her background.
American Dream	The belief that through hard work a person can achieve upward mobility and financial success, no matter his or her background.
Amerindian	Ethnicity of people whose ancestors are native to the Americas.
Ancona Line	An imaginary line that cuts across Italy from Rome to Ancona and divides Italy into northern Italy and southern Italy.
Ancona Line	An imaginary line that cuts across Italy from Rome to Ancona and divides Italy into northern Italy and southern Italy.
apartheid	A legally institutionalized policy of segregation (in South Africa) based on ethnic background or skin color.
apartheid	A legally institutionalized policy of segregation (in South Africa) based on ethnic background or skin color.
Armenian Apostolic Church	The main religion in Armenia, the church dates to the fourth century CE.
Armenian Apostolic Church	The main religion in Armenia, the church dates to the fourth century CE.
Asia Minor	The ancient region that is present-day Turkey.
Asia Minor	The ancient region that is present-day Turkey.
Atlantic Trade Triangle	The shipping trade that moved goods and people between Europe, Africa, and the New World.
Atlantic Trade Triangle	The shipping trade that moved goods and people between Europe, Africa, and the New World.
Automobile suburbs	A residential area outside the city center to which people commute by automobile.
Automobile suburbs	A residential area outside the city center to which people commute by automobile.
Axis of Evil	Term used in a 2002 speech by US president George W. Bush referring to Iraq, Iran, and North Korea for their aspirations to acquire chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons and their support of terrorist activities.
Axis of Evil	Term used in a 2002 speech by US president George W. Bush referring to Iraq, Iran, and North Korea for their aspirations to acquire chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons and their support of terrorist activities.
Bamboo Curtain	Political policies in China restricting people from entering or leaving the country.
Bamboo Curtain	Political policies in China restricting people from entering or leaving the country.
banana republic	Political state whose economy is dominated by a single crop, which happens to be bananas.
banana republic	Political state whose economy is dominated by a single crop, which happens to be bananas.
barrios	Term used to describe a slum in the northern parts of South America and Middle America.
barrios	Term used to describe a slum in the northern parts of South America and Middle America.
Benelux Agreement	Supranational agreement between Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg that provided an early pattern for the European Union.
Benelux Agreement	Supranational agreement between Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg that provided an early pattern for the European Union.
Berlin Conference	Meeting called in 1884 by Otto Von Bismarck of Germany with the purpose of dividing and organizing African colonies by European colonial powers. The people who attended were European and American; Africans were not invited.
Berlin Conference	Meeting called in 1884 by Otto Von Bismarck of Germany with the purpose of dividing and organizing African colonies by European colonial powers. The people who attended were European and American; Africans were not invited.
Biafra	Separatist republic in southeastern Nigeria from 1967 to 1970.
Biafra	Separatist republic in southeastern Nigeria from 1967 to 1970.
blood diamonds	Diamonds used as currency to fund civil war or armed conflicts.
blood diamonds	Diamonds used as currency to fund civil war or armed conflicts.
Bollywood	Indian film industry based in Mumbai; the title Bollywood is a combination of the names Hollywood and Bombay.
Bollywood	Indian film industry based in Mumbai; the title Bollywood is a combination of the names Hollywood and Bombay.
Bolsheviks	The political group, led by Vladimir Lenin, that won the civil war in Russia (1917–23) and took control of the new USSR.
Bolsheviks	The political group, led by Vladimir Lenin, that won the civil war in Russia (1917–23) and took control of the new USSR.
brain drain	The loss of educated people or professionals from a peripheral area who move to a core area.
brain drain	The loss of educated people or professionals from a peripheral area who move to a core area.
business process outsourcing (BPO)	Relocation of business tasks to another country where labor costs are lower. The term has mainly been applied to business involving digital data that can be transferred through high-speed Internet and communications technology.
business process outsourcing (BPO)	Relocation of business tasks to another country where labor costs are lower. The term has mainly been applied to business involving digital data that can be transferred through high-speed Internet and communications technology.
Calendar Lake	A name applied to Lake Malawi because it is 365 miles long and 52 miles wide.
Calendar Lake	A name applied to Lake Malawi because it is 365 miles long and 52 miles wide.
Camp David Accord	A 1977 peace agreement between Israel and Egypt to not go to war again.
Camp David Accord	A 1977 peace agreement between Israel and Egypt to not go to war again.
cartography	The art and science of map making.
cartography	The art and science of map making.
caste system	Rigid social hierarchy based on Hindu traditions that people are born into based on their past lives.
caste system	Rigid social hierarchy based on Hindu traditions that people are born into based on their past lives.
Cease-Fire Line	Demilitarized zone dividing North and South Korea.
Cease-Fire Line	Demilitarized zone dividing North and South Korea.
center pivot irrigation	A system of crop irrigation in which the irrigation machinery rotates from a center point, creating circular fields. Center pivot irrigation was used in the Great Plains to irrigate crops with water from the Ogallala Aquifer.
center pivot irrigation	A system of crop irrigation in which the irrigation machinery rotates from a center point, creating circular fields. Center pivot irrigation was used in the Great Plains to irrigate crops with water from the Ogallala Aquifer.
central business district (CBD)	The core area of a city with a high concentration of business and commerce that was developed in early industrial cities to provide access to labor, factories, and the market.
central business district (CBD)	The core area of a city with a high concentration of business and commerce that was developed in early industrial cities to provide access to labor, factories, and the market.
central business district (CBD)	The location in a city that is considered the downtown, characterized by high rents and high density of buildings and commerce.
central business district (CBD)	The location in a city that is considered the downtown, characterized by high rents and high density of buildings and commerce.
centrifugal forces	Cultural forces that divide or separate people in a political unit.
centrifugal forces	Cultural forces that divide or separate people in a political unit.
cerrado	Term referring to the large savanna grasslands with occasional scrub forests. Most noted for the region in Brazil between the tropical rain forests of the Amazon Basin and the Brazilian Highlands.
cerrado	Term referring to the large savanna grasslands with occasional scrub forests. Most noted for the region in Brazil between the tropical rain forests of the Amazon Basin and the Brazilian Highlands.
Chinese Taipei	Title allowed by the Chinese government for the designation of Taiwan.
Chinese Taipei	Title allowed by the Chinese government for the designation of Taiwan.
Chunnel	The tunnel under the English Channel connecting Great Britain with France.
Chunnel	The tunnel under the English Channel connecting Great Britain with France.
climate types	Long-term weather patterns based on environmental conditions, including temperature and precipitation.
climate types	Long-term weather patterns based on environmental conditions, including temperature and precipitation.
coffee republic	Political state whose economy is dominated by a single crop, which happens to be coffee.
coffee republic	Political state whose economy is dominated by a single crop, which happens to be coffee.
Cold War	The protracted competition for military strength, scientific prowess, economic growth, and control of resources between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies from 1945 to 1991.
Cold War	The protracted competition for military strength, scientific prowess, economic growth, and control of resources between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies from 1945 to 1991.
colonialism	The development of colonies outside the home country, usually for economic gain or expansion of the empire.
colonialism	The development of colonies outside the home country, usually for economic gain or expansion of the empire.
command economy	An economy in which economic decisions are made by a central authority and not according to market demands.
command economy	An economy in which economic decisions are made by a central authority and not according to market demands.
Common Market	A precursor to the European Union created by the Treaty of Rome to establish common institutions and implement standards for trade and commerce among them.
Common Market	A precursor to the European Union created by the Treaty of Rome to establish common institutions and implement standards for trade and commerce among them.
consumer society	An economy fueled by a high level of consumption and spending where the population is dominated by higher incomes and smaller family sizes.
consumer society	An economy fueled by a high level of consumption and spending where the population is dominated by higher incomes and smaller family sizes.
core-periphery spatial relationship	Relationship between the urban core areas, which hold the economic, political, educational, cultural, and industrial power, and the rural peripheral regions, which make their living off the land and provide food and raw materials to the core but have little power over the markets where these goods are sold.
core-periphery spatial relationship	Relationship between the urban core areas, which hold the economic, political, educational, cultural, and industrial power, and the rural peripheral regions, which make their living off the land and provide food and raw materials to the core but have little power over the markets where these goods are sold.
corporate colonialism	Neocolonialism as it applies to the power of multinational corporations to exploit the labor and resources of a country without taking responsibility for its physical control.
corporate colonialism	Neocolonialism as it applies to the power of multinational corporations to exploit the labor and resources of a country without taking responsibility for its physical control.
cultural hearth	Region or area where an early human civilization began.
cultural hearth	Region or area where an early human civilization began.
cultural landscape	Places where the earth’s surface has been altered by human activity.
cultural landscape	Places where the earth’s surface has been altered by human activity.
culture hearths	The place where a new culture forms and from which it spreads.
culture hearths	The place where a new culture forms and from which it spreads.
cyclone	Tropical cyclone that occurs in the Indian Ocean region and in the South Pacific Ocean.
cyclone	Tropical cyclone that occurs in the Indian Ocean region and in the South Pacific Ocean.
Dalits (Untouchables or Harijan)	The lowest level in the Hindu caste system. The term untouchables has been replaced by the term Dalits; Dalits is seen as being more appropriate. Gandhi used the term Harijan for this caste, meaning “Children of God.”
Dalits (Untouchables or Harijan)	The lowest level in the Hindu caste system. The term untouchables has been replaced by the term Dalits; Dalits is seen as being more appropriate. Gandhi used the term Harijan for this caste, meaning “Children of God.”
Dayton Accord	An agreement reached by leaders of former Yugoslavia to end the war in Bosnia.
Dayton Accord	An agreement reached by leaders of former Yugoslavia to end the war in Bosnia.
deforestation	The removal of trees at an unsustainable rate.
deforestation	The removal of trees at an unsustainable rate.
desertification	Loss of plant life and the encroachment of sand, creating desert conditions.
desertification	Loss of plant life and the encroachment of sand, creating desert conditions.
devolution	The process whereby regions within a country demand autonomy at the central government’s expense.
devolution	The process whereby regions within a country demand autonomy at the central government’s expense.
doabs	Silt deposits formed by changing river channels along the Indus River in Pakistan.
doabs	Silt deposits formed by changing river channels along the Indus River in Pakistan.
domino effect	Belief that if one country is affected in some way, then the neighboring countries will be affected in the same way. This term was mainly applied to Southeast Asia and Communism in Vietnam.
domino effect	Belief that if one country is affected in some way, then the neighboring countries will be affected in the same way. This term was mainly applied to Southeast Asia and Communism in Vietnam.
doubling time	The time it takes a population to double. The accepted formula is 70 ÷ population growth rate = doubling time in years.
doubling time	The time it takes a population to double. The accepted formula is 70 ÷ population growth rate = doubling time in years.
Druze	Minority religious group that is semi-Islamic and incorporates Gnostic or neo-Platonic philosophies.
Druze	Minority religious group that is semi-Islamic and incorporates Gnostic or neo-Platonic philosophies.
economic dragon	Economic superpower in Asia—often used to refer to Japan.
economic dragon	Economic superpower in Asia—often used to refer to Japan.
economic tigers	Quickly emerging economic centers in Asia that now include South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
economic tigers	Quickly emerging economic centers in Asia that now include South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
ecumene	Habitable zone for permanent human settlement.
ecumene	Habitable zone for permanent human settlement.
edge city	Sometimes called a “suburban downtown,” a high-density business district that forms outside the limits of a traditional city, often at the intersection of major highways. Edge cities may contain shopping malls, hotels, office parks, and entertainment venues.
edge city	Sometimes called a “suburban downtown,” a high-density business district that forms outside the limits of a traditional city, often at the intersection of major highways. Edge cities may contain shopping malls, hotels, office parks, and entertainment venues.
Eightfold Path (The Middle Way)	Buddhist principles that lead to the end of suffering and toward self-awakening and enlightenment.
Eightfold Path (The Middle Way)	Buddhist principles that lead to the end of suffering and toward self-awakening and enlightenment.
ejidos	Land system in Mexico in which the community owns the land but individuals can gain profit from it by sharing resources.
ejidos	Land system in Mexico in which the community owns the land but individuals can gain profit from it by sharing resources.
embargo	Restriction on economic trade with a country.
embargo	Restriction on economic trade with a country.
emir	A ruler or chief in Islamic countries.
emir	A ruler or chief in Islamic countries.
Empty Quarter	Land in western Maine that has virtually no inhabitants but a robust forestry industry.
Empty Quarter	Land in western Maine that has virtually no inhabitants but a robust forestry industry.
entrepôt	A break-of-bulk point where large shipments arrive and are broken down into smaller shipments for delivery to local regions on smaller transportation systems.
entrepôt	A break-of-bulk point where large shipments arrive and are broken down into smaller shipments for delivery to local regions on smaller transportation systems.
Equinoxes	Time of the year in March and September when the line of direct sunlight hits the equator; at this time, days and nights are of equal length.
Equinoxes	Time of the year in March and September when the line of direct sunlight hits the equator; at this time, days and nights are of equal length.
ethnic cleansing	The forced removal of one people (usually an ethnic group) from an area by another by military force or war.
ethnic cleansing	The forced removal of one people (usually an ethnic group) from an area by another by military force or war.
ethnic cleansing	The forced removal of one people by another through armed force.
ethnic cleansing	The forced removal of one people by another through armed force.
ethnicity	The traits, attributes, or national identity that people are born with.
ethnicity	The traits, attributes, or national identity that people are born with.
exclaves	Territory of one country that is physically separated from that country.
exclaves	Territory of one country that is physically separated from that country.
family size	The number of children raised in a household.
family size	The number of children raised in a household.
Far East	General European term for the regions of Asia including India and China.
Far East	General European term for the regions of Asia including India and China.
favelas	Term used to describe a slum in parts of South America, particularly Brazil.
favelas	Term used to describe a slum in parts of South America, particularly Brazil.
fertigation	System of drip irrigation mixed with fertilizers used in Israel.
fertigation	System of drip irrigation mixed with fertilizers used in Israel.
Fertile Crescent	The region of Mesopotamia and the Levant where early human civilization flourished.
Fertile Crescent	The region of Mesopotamia and the Levant where early human civilization flourished.
formal region	Area with specific agreed upon administrative, governmental or political boundaries.
formal region	Area with specific agreed upon administrative, governmental or political boundaries.
formal sector	Economic activity that is regulated, controlled, or taxed by the government.
formal sector	Economic activity that is regulated, controlled, or taxed by the government.
forward capital	Capital city that has been moved to advance development or to protect the interest of the country moving it.
forward capital	Capital city that has been moved to advance development or to protect the interest of the country moving it.
Francophones	A native French-speaking person or group.
Francophones	A native French-speaking person or group.
free-trade zone	A geographic area that does not usually impose a tax or fee on doing business within its border; a tax-free zone of economic activity.
free-trade zone	A geographic area that does not usually impose a tax or fee on doing business within its border; a tax-free zone of economic activity.
Functional regions	Area defined by boundaries related to a function.
Functional regions	Area defined by boundaries related to a function.
GDP per capita	The total value of goods and services produced by a country, divided by the population.
GDP per capita	The total value of goods and services produced by a country, divided by the population.
Geographic information science (GIS)	Science (or system) that uses a computer program to sort layers of digital data to create specialized maps focusing on specific topics.
Geographic information science (GIS)	Science (or system) that uses a computer program to sort layers of digital data to create specialized maps focusing on specific topics.
Geography	The spatial study of the earth’s surface.
Geography	The spatial study of the earth’s surface.
geometric boundaries	Political boundaries based on straight lines rather than physical features.
geometric boundaries	Political boundaries based on straight lines rather than physical features.
geopolitics	The geography of international relations.
geopolitics	The geography of international relations.
Geospatial techniques	The tools used by geographers to illustrate, manage and manipulate spatial data, which can include cartography, GIS, and remote sensing.
Geospatial techniques	The tools used by geographers to illustrate, manage and manipulate spatial data, which can include cartography, GIS, and remote sensing.
geotourism	Type of sustainable tourism that focuses on the stewardship of place and the preservation of its essential character.
geotourism	Type of sustainable tourism that focuses on the stewardship of place and the preservation of its essential character.
glasnost	Russian word for “openness”; a program to foster political transparency and openness carried out by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in the 1980s.
glasnost	Russian word for “openness”; a program to foster political transparency and openness carried out by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in the 1980s.
global positioning system (GPS)	System that uses satellite signals to determine exact location on the earth’s surface.
global positioning system (GPS)	System that uses satellite signals to determine exact location on the earth’s surface.
Globalization	The integration of networks or systems between multiple countries that creates exchanges or interdependencies between participating entities.
Globalization	The integration of networks or systems between multiple countries that creates exchanges or interdependencies between participating entities.
Gold Coast	Coastal area off West Africa in the region of the current country of Ghana.
Gold Coast	Coastal area off West Africa in the region of the current country of Ghana.
Golden Triangle	Border region between Burma, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam that has traditionally been a major opium growing area for the world.
Golden Triangle	Border region between Burma, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam that has traditionally been a major opium growing area for the world.
Gondwanaland	Pangaea was a supercontinent in very ancient times. Between about two hundred to five hundred million years ago, Gondwana was the southern portion of Pangaea and included most of the land in what is today the Southern Hemisphere.
Gondwanaland	Pangaea was a supercontinent in very ancient times. Between about two hundred to five hundred million years ago, Gondwana was the southern portion of Pangaea and included most of the land in what is today the Southern Hemisphere.
Great Migration	A massive migration of blacks from the South to cities of the North and West. Between 1910 and 1925, more than 10 percent of African Americans made the journey north.
Great Migration	A massive migration of blacks from the South to cities of the North and West. Between 1910 and 1925, more than 10 percent of African Americans made the journey north.
Great Purge	The largest of Soviet leader Josef Stalin’s purges of his perceived political enemies. From 1936 to 1938 he had about one million “enemies of the state” executed.
Great Purge	The largest of Soviet leader Josef Stalin’s purges of his perceived political enemies. From 1936 to 1938 he had about one million “enemies of the state” executed.
gross national happiness	Measure of cultural well-being used to guide development in Bhutan.
gross national happiness	Measure of cultural well-being used to guide development in Bhutan.
Gulf Stream	Ocean current that carries warmer water from the South Atlantic to the North Atlantic and moderates the temperature of Western Europe.
Gulf Stream	Ocean current that carries warmer water from the South Atlantic to the North Atlantic and moderates the temperature of Western Europe.
hacienda	Large land holding established by Spanish colonialists for social prestige and a comfortable lifestyle. In Mexico, haciendas allowed local Amerindian residents to live on the premises and work for the Spanish land owner.
hacienda	Large land holding established by Spanish colonialists for social prestige and a comfortable lifestyle. In Mexico, haciendas allowed local Amerindian residents to live on the premises and work for the Spanish land owner.
haves and have-nots	Those who have opportunities and advantages and those who do not.
haves and have-nots	Those who have opportunities and advantages and those who do not.
hejira (hijra)	The start of the Islamic calendar, which refers to when Muhammad fled from Mecca to Medina.
hejira (hijra)	The start of the Islamic calendar, which refers to when Muhammad fled from Mecca to Medina.
Hezbollah	Anti-Israeli group based in Lebanon.
Hezbollah	Anti-Israeli group based in Lebanon.
high islands	Islands usually of volcanic origin that can reach elevations in the thousands of feet.
high islands	Islands usually of volcanic origin that can reach elevations in the thousands of feet.
human geography	The study of human activity and its relationship to the earth’s surface.
human geography	The study of human activity and its relationship to the earth’s surface.
imams	Mosque leader in Islam.
imams	Mosque leader in Islam.
imperial	When a central state forcibly rules territory inhabited by people of different ethnicities, languages, or religions.
imperial	When a central state forcibly rules territory inhabited by people of different ethnicities, languages, or religions.
index of economic development	Five-stage model that illustrates the transition of a country from a rural society with large families to an urban society with small families and a consumer lifestyle.
index of economic development	Five-stage model that illustrates the transition of a country from a rural society with large families to an urban society with small families and a consumer lifestyle.
Industrial Revolution,	Late-1700s shift to coal for energy, the steam engine for power, the smelting of iron, and the concept of mass production that changed how goods were produced.
Industrial Revolution,	Late-1700s shift to coal for energy, the steam engine for power, the smelting of iron, and the concept of mass production that changed how goods were produced.
informal sector	Economic activity that is not regulated, controlled, or taxed by the government.
informal sector	Economic activity that is not regulated, controlled, or taxed by the government.
insular region	The region consisting of the islands of Southeast Asia—Brunei, East Timor, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Singapore.
insular region	The region consisting of the islands of Southeast Asia—Brunei, East Timor, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Singapore.
Inuit	Native peoples of the Arctic regions of Canada and other countries.
Inuit	Native peoples of the Arctic regions of Canada and other countries.
Iron Curtain	The physical barrier in the form of walls, barbed wire, and land mines that divided Eastern Europe and Western Europe during the Cold War.
Iron Curtain	The physical barrier in the form of walls, barbed wire, or land mines that divided Eastern Europe and Western Europe during the Cold War.
Iron Curtain	The physical barrier in the form of walls, barbed wire, or land mines that divided Eastern Europe and Western Europe during the Cold War.
Iron Curtain	The physical barrier in the form of walls, barbed wire, and land mines that divided Eastern Europe and Western Europe during the Cold War.
Iron Curtain	The physical barrier in the form of walls, barbed wire, or land mines that divided Eastern Europe and Western Europe during the Cold War.
Iron Curtain	The physical barrier in the form of walls, barbed wire, or land mines that divided Eastern Europe and Western Europe during the Cold War.
Islamic Brotherhood	Muslim-based organization in Egypt that was banned by the Egyptian government.
Islamic Brotherhood	Muslim-based organization in Egypt that was banned by the Egyptian government.
Janjaweed	Militias in Sudan hired by the Arabs to ethnically cleanse the Darfur region.
Janjaweed	Militias in Sudan hired by the Arabs to ethnically cleanse the Darfur region.
Juche	Policy of self-sufficiency and self-reliance in North Korea.
Juche	Policy of self-sufficiency and self-reliance in North Korea.
Khalistan	Proposed homeland for the Sikhs in the Punjab region of South Asia.
Khalistan	Proposed homeland for the Sikhs in the Punjab region of South Asia.
Killing Fields	Rural areas in Cambodia where Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge killed tens of thousands of people and buried them in mass graves often dug by the same people who were buried there before they were killed.
Killing Fields	Rural areas in Cambodia where Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge killed tens of thousands of people and buried them in mass graves often dug by the same people who were buried there before they were killed.
Kremlin	The seat of the Soviet, and then Russian, government. The Russian word for a fortress or walled city, the Kremlin is the ancient fortress in Moscow.
Kremlin	The seat of the Soviet, and then Russian, government. The Russian word for a fortress or walled city, the Kremlin is the ancient fortress in Moscow.
Kurdistan	Proposed state to include all Kurds in the Middle East.
Kurdistan	Proposed state to include all Kurds in the Middle East.
Kyoto Protocol	An international environmental treaty with the goal of achieving stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.
Kyoto Protocol	An international environmental treaty with the goal of achieving stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.
Landslides	When conditions such as high water saturation or an earthquake cause large amounts of earth to slide downward on a slope.
Landslides	When conditions such as high water saturation or an earthquake cause large amounts of earth to slide downward on a slope.
language police	Slang term for civil servants who enforce French language laws in Quebec.
language police	Slang term for civil servants who enforce French language laws in Quebec.
Levant	Land area bordering the eastern Mediterranean Sea that now includes Israel, Lebanon, and parts of western Syria.
Levant	Land area bordering the eastern Mediterranean Sea that now includes Israel, Lebanon, and parts of western Syria.
Llanos	Term referring to a treeless grassland region or plateau. Most noted for the region between the Andes and the Guiana Highlands along the Orinoco River basin of northern South America.
Llanos	Term referring to a treeless grassland region or plateau. Most noted for the region between the Andes and the Guiana Highlands along the Orinoco River basin of northern South America.
loess	Extremely fine silt or soil such as that found in the Yellow River Basin of China.
loess	Extremely fine silt or soil such as that found in the Yellow River Basin of China.
long lots	Farms in French Canada that were about ten times as long as they were wide.
long lots	Farms in French Canada that were about ten times as long as they were wide.
madrassas	Private religious schools that teach the Koran and Islamic Law.
madrassas	Private religious schools that teach the Koran and Islamic Law.
Madrid Protocol	Another name for the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty.
Madrid Protocol	Another name for the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty.
mainland	The interior portions of Mexico and Central America.
mainland	The interior portions of Mexico and Central America.
Manifest Destiny	The belief that it was the duty and destiny of Americans to continue to move westward and conquer all the land between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Manifest Destiny	The belief that it was the duty and destiny of Americans to continue to move westward and conquer all the land between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Manufacturing Belt	The upper Midwest and the northeastern United States; the heart of the early manufacturing sector.
Manufacturing Belt	The upper Midwest and the northeastern United States; the heart of the early manufacturing sector.
Maori	Polynesian people living in New Zealand when the European colonialists arrived.
Maori	Polynesian people living in New Zealand when the European colonialists arrived.
maquiladoras	Foreign-owned factories in Mexico that import most of the raw materials or components, assemble or process the product with local cheap labor, and export the finished product for profit.
maquiladoras	Foreign-owned factories in Mexico that import most of the raw materials or components, assemble or process the product with local cheap labor, and export the finished product for profit.
market economy	Economy based on free market determining supply and demand.
market economy	Economy based on free market determining supply and demand.
megalopolis	The continually built-up area from Washington, DC, to Boston.
megalopolis	The continually built-up area from Washington, DC, to Boston.
Meiji Restoration	The return of enlightened rule, starting in 1868 when modernizers took control of Japan.
Meiji Restoration	The return of enlightened rule, starting in 1868 when modernizers took control of Japan.
melting pot	The coming together a diverse group of immigrants to form one society or to share common ideals.
melting pot	The coming together a diverse group of immigrants to form one society or to share common ideals.
mercantilism	Economic principle that outlines the drive for governments to gain wealth through the control of trade, which encouraged the expansion of colonial activity in Europe during the colonial era.
mercantilism	Economic principle that outlines the drive for governments to gain wealth through the control of trade, which encouraged the expansion of colonial activity in Europe during the colonial era.
Mesopotamia	The “land between rivers,” referring to the land between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
Mesopotamia	The “land between rivers,” referring to the land between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
mestizo	People of mixed ethnicity, including European and Amerindian ethnicity.
mestizo	People of mixed ethnicity, including European and Amerindian ethnicity.
microcredit	Small loans extended to people without collateral to assist them in applying their skills to an economic enterprise.
microcredit	Small loans extended to people without collateral to assist them in applying their skills to an economic enterprise.
Middle Passage	The journey of ships carrying African slaves across the Atlantic Ocean.
Middle Passage	The journey of ships carrying African slaves across the Atlantic Ocean.
monsoon	Seasonal reversal of wind that is common in parts of Asia. The summer monsoon is usually associated with high amounts of rainfall.
monsoon	Seasonal reversal of wind that is common in parts of Asia. The summer monsoon is usually associated with high amounts of rainfall.
Moors	Berber-Arab alliance in North Africa that crossed the Strait of Gibraltar and brought Islam to the Iberian Peninsula.
Moors	Berber-Arab alliance in North Africa that crossed the Strait of Gibraltar and brought Islam to the Iberian Peninsula.
Mount St. Helens	The volcano in the US state of Washington that erupted in 1980.
Mount St. Helens	The volcano in the US state of Washington that erupted in 1980.
Mujahideen	Muslim fighters at war with those who attack or threaten their beliefs.
Mujahideen	Muslim fighters at war with those who attack or threaten their beliefs.
mulattos	A person with both European and African ancestry.
mulattos	A person with both European and African ancestry.
mutawa’een	Religious police in Saudi Arabia that monitor social behavior in public.
mutawa’een	Religious police in Saudi Arabia that monitor social behavior in public.
nation-states	Political unit in which the people (the nation) are unified under a similar heritage or culture and are under a unified common government (the state).
nation-states	Political unit in which the people (the nation) are unified under a similar heritage or culture and are under a unified common government (the state).
National debt	The amount of money owed by a country’s government.
National debt	The amount of money owed by a country’s government.
natural increase	Crude birth rate minus the crude death rate. If it is positive, then the population is growing; if it is negative, then the population is in decline. This does not take immigration into consideration as a component of population change.
natural increase	Crude birth rate minus the crude death rate. If it is positive, then the population is growing; if it is negative, then the population is in decline. This does not take immigration into consideration as a component of population change.
New World Order	Term used by US President George H. W. Bush in a speech in the early 1990s to address the actions of the Persian Gulf War to remove Saddam Hussein from Kuwait.
New World Order	Term used by US President George H. W. Bush in a speech in the early 1990s to address the actions of the Persian Gulf War to remove Saddam Hussein from Kuwait.
Nirvana	State of freedom from suffering and the uniting with the Supreme Being in Eastern religions.
Nirvana	State of freedom from suffering and the uniting with the Supreme Being in Eastern religions.
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)	Agreement signed by Canada, the United States, and Mexico in 1994 creating a trade bloc between the three countries.
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)	Agreement signed by Canada, the United States, and Mexico in 1994 creating a trade bloc between the three countries.
old growth forests	Forests that have not been removed by humans.
old growth forests	Forests that have not been removed by humans.
Operation Desert Storm	Military action to remove Saddam Hussein from power in Kuwait during the First Persian Gulf War in 1991.
Operation Desert Storm	Military action to remove Saddam Hussein from power in Kuwait during the First Persian Gulf War in 1991.
Operation Enduring Freedom	US war on terrorism around the world, which included the US invasion of Afghanistan to remove al-Qaeda in 2001.
Operation Enduring Freedom	US war on terrorism around the world, which included the US invasion of Afghanistan to remove al-Qaeda in 2001.
Operation Restore Hope	The 1992 mission conducted by US marines to stabilize the distribution of food aid from the port of Mogadishu to Somalia and Ethiopia.
Operation Restore Hope	The 1992 mission conducted by US marines to stabilize the distribution of food aid from the port of Mogadishu to Somalia and Ethiopia.
overseas Chinese	Ethnic Chinese who live outside of China.
overseas Chinese	Ethnic Chinese who live outside of China.
ozone hole	A major reduction in the amount of ozone found in a specific area of the stratosphere.
ozone hole	A major reduction in the amount of ozone found in a specific area of the stratosphere.
Pacific Rim	The coastal lands bordering the Pacific Ocean.
Pacific Rim	The coastal lands bordering the Pacific Ocean.
Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)	Governing body that represents the Palestinians.
Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)	Governing body that represents the Palestinians.
Palestinians	People who lived in the region of Palestine before Israel was recognized as a nation in 1948.
Palestinians	People who lived in the region of Palestine before Israel was recognized as a nation in 1948.
Pan-African	Movement to create African unity across the continent.
Pan-African	Movement to create African unity across the continent.
Permafrost	A layer of permanently frozen soil common in the Russian Arctic.
Permafrost	A layer of permanently frozen soil common in the Russian Arctic.
Peronism	Temporary movement in support of Argentina’s populist president Juan Perón and his wife, Eva, in response to their concern for the poor and the working class.
Peronism	Temporary movement in support of Argentina’s populist president Juan Perón and his wife, Eva, in response to their concern for the poor and the working class.
Physical landscape	The physical environmental features that make up the earth’s surface.
Physical landscape	The physical environmental features that make up the earth’s surface.
physiologic density	The number of people per unit (square mile) of arable land.
physiologic density	The number of people per unit (square mile) of arable land.
plantation	Agricultural unit focusing on a single cash crop with seasonal high-labor needs and usually operated by individuals not directly working the land. The plantation was common in the rimland of Middle America and more common during the era of slavery.
plantation	Agricultural unit focusing on a single cash crop with seasonal high-labor needs and usually operated by individuals not directly working the land. The plantation was common in the rimland of Middle America and more common during the era of slavery.
polders	Dry land reclaimed from the sea in the Netherlands.
polders	Dry land reclaimed from the sea in the Netherlands.
political revolution	Transformation of Europe was a result of diverse actions focused on ending continual warfare for the control of territory and introducing peaceful agreements that recognized sovereignty of territories ruled by representative government structures.
political revolution	Transformation of Europe was a result of diverse actions focused on ending continual warfare for the control of territory and introducing peaceful agreements that recognized sovereignty of territories ruled by representative government structures.
polygamy	The practice of a man or a woman having more than one spouse.
polygamy	The practice of a man or a woman having more than one spouse.
population geography	The examination of the spatial distribution of human populations.
population geography	The examination of the spatial distribution of human populations.
population pyramids	Graphic illustration of age cohorts by sex for a given population.
population pyramids	Graphic illustration of age cohorts by sex for a given population.
primate city	A country’s largest city that is usually twice the size of the next largest city and is exceptionally expressive of the national culture and persona.
primate city	A country’s largest city that is usually twice the size of the next largest city and is exceptionally expressive of the national culture and persona.
qanats	System of shafts or wells along a mountain slope that allows water to collect into a common underground channel, which is then diverted to wherever it is needed.
qanats	System of shafts or wells along a mountain slope that allows water to collect into a common underground channel, which is then diverted to wherever it is needed.
Quaternary economic sector	Division of the economy that deals with information collecting and processing, as well as management.
Quaternary economic sector	Division of the economy that deals with information collecting and processing, as well as management.
rain shadow effect	When mountains or high elevation relief restrict precipitation from reaching the other side of the mountains, resulting in arid or desert-like conditions.
rain shadow effect	When mountains or high elevation relief restrict precipitation from reaching the other side of the mountains, resulting in arid or desert-like conditions.
rare earth elements	A group of seventeen metallic ores that are often used in high-tech applications.
rare earth elements	A group of seventeen metallic ores that are often used in high-tech applications.
realms	The basic unit in world regionalization; a composite of human and environmental features.
realms	The basic unit in world regionalization; a composite of human and environmental features.
regional complementarity	When two areas can exchange goods or resources to satisfy both sides’ demands and both can benefit.
regional complementarity	When two areas can exchange goods or resources to satisfy both sides’ demands and both can benefit.
Reincarnation	Cycle of birth and death that the soul transmigrates through on the path to salvation or Nirvana.
Reincarnation	Cycle of birth and death that the soul transmigrates through on the path to salvation or Nirvana.
relocation diffusion	A phenomenon that starts at one point and propagates outward by relocating to a different location.
relocation diffusion	A phenomenon that starts at one point and propagates outward by relocating to a different location.
remittances	Money sent home by immigrants.
remittances	Money sent home by immigrants.
Remote sensing	The acquisition of data about the earth’s surface through aerial photographs taken from airplanes or images created from satellites orbiting the earth.
Remote sensing	The acquisition of data about the earth’s surface through aerial photographs taken from airplanes or images created from satellites orbiting the earth.
rift valleys	Large fault zones in the eastern region of the African continent caused by shifting tectonic plates; long valleys surrounded by higher elevations or plateaus are created.
rift valleys	Large fault zones in the eastern region of the African continent caused by shifting tectonic plates; long valleys surrounded by higher elevations or plateaus are created.
Rural-to-urban shift	Trend that occurs when people migrate from a rural to an urban part of the same region in search of opportunities or advantages.
Rural-to-urban shift	Trend that occurs when people migrate from a rural to an urban part of the same region in search of opportunities or advantages.
Russian Orthodoxy	The doctrines and tenets of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Russian Orthodoxy	The doctrines and tenets of the Russian Orthodox Church.
salinization	The buildup of salts in soils that have been heavily irrigated over the years, typically in arid climates.
salinization	The buildup of salts in soils that have been heavily irrigated over the years, typically in arid climates.
secular states	A state with civil law based on democratic consensus or by vote that is not affiliated with any particular religion.
secular states	A state with civil law based on democratic consensus or by vote that is not affiliated with any particular religion.
Senegambia	Single political unit of Senegal and the Gambia from 1982 to 1989.
Senegambia	Single political unit of Senegal and the Gambia from 1982 to 1989.
separatist movement	A movement of people who wish to have greater political autonomy.
separatist movement	A movement of people who wish to have greater political autonomy.
shatterbelt	Region with political fracturing and splintering such as Eastern Europe.
shatterbelt	Region with political fracturing and splintering such as Eastern Europe.
sheik	An Arab chief.
sheik	An Arab chief.
Shintoism	Ethnic religion that is indigenous to Japan.
Shintoism	Ethnic religion that is indigenous to Japan.
shock therapy	The process of rapid privatization and the move to market capitalism after the Soviet Union’s collapse.
shock therapy	The process of rapid privatization and the move to market capitalism after the Soviet Union’s collapse.
Silk Road	Land route from China to Europe through the high mountains of Central Asia.
Silk Road	Land route from China to Europe through the high mountains of Central Asia.
socialism	An economic and political practice in which the government owns the means of economic production, distribution, and exchange. Socialism is thought to be a step on the path to Communism.
socialism	An economic and political practice in which the government owns the means of economic production, distribution, and exchange. Socialism is thought to be a step on the path to Communism.
Solidarity	Movement in Poland, led by Lech Wałęsa, to organize workers during the Cold War.
Solidarity	Movement in Poland, led by Lech Wałęsa, to organize workers during the Cold War.
solstices	Time of the year when the line of direct sunlight is either the farthest north or the farthest south and is directly over either the Tropic of Cancer or the Tropic of Capricorn.
solstices	Time of the year when the line of direct sunlight is either the farthest north or the farthest south and is directly over either the Tropic of Cancer or the Tropic of Capricorn.
Soviet Socialist Republics	The “states” within the Soviet Union.
Soviet Socialist Republics	The “states” within the Soviet Union.
Soviet Union	Also called the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), a country created in 1922, after the Russian Empire and the Russian Civil War and dissolved in 1991.
Soviet Union	Also called the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), a country created in 1922, after the Russian Empire and the Russian Civil War and dissolved in 1991.
spatial diffusion	The spread of any phenomenon, idea, disease, or concept through a population across space and through time.
spatial diffusion	The spread of any phenomenon, idea, disease, or concept through a population across space and through time.
special economic zones (SEZs)	Politically designated area where special economic rules or administrative policies are established to attract or encourage business and trade.
special economic zones (SEZs)	Politically designated area where special economic rules or administrative policies are established to attract or encourage business and trade.
state capitalism	When the state owns or controls the means of production but allows the free markets to determine supply and demand.
state capitalism	When the state owns or controls the means of production but allows the free markets to determine supply and demand.
steppe	Temperate grasslands in a semiarid region that does not receive enough rainfall for forests but is not dry enough to be a desert.
steppe	Temperate grasslands in a semiarid region that does not receive enough rainfall for forests but is not dry enough to be a desert.
storm surge	When water is pushed toward the hurricane’s center, it causes flooding when hitting landfall; usually the feature of a hurricane that produces the most damage or loss of life.
storm surge	When water is pushed toward the hurricane’s center, it causes flooding when hitting landfall; usually the feature of a hurricane that produces the most damage or loss of life.
Subtropical Convergence	Where the cold, dense waters of the Southern Ocean meet up with the warmer waters of the other oceans.
Subtropical Convergence	Where the cold, dense waters of the Southern Ocean meet up with the warmer waters of the other oceans.
sultan	A sovereign of a Muslim state.
sultan	A sovereign of a Muslim state.
Sun Belt	The region extending through the American South, Southwest, and into California.
Sun Belt	The region extending through the American South, Southwest, and into California.
Supranationalism	The voluntary association of three or more independent states willing to yield some measure of sovereignty for mutual benefit.
Supranationalism	The voluntary association of three or more independent states willing to yield some measure of sovereignty for mutual benefit.
Taliban	Militant Islamist group in Afghanistan that took control of the central government in 1996.
Taliban	Militant Islamist group in Afghanistan that took control of the central government in 1996.
Taureg	Nomadic ethnic group of the Sahara known for their indigo-colored clothing and use of camels for transportation.
Taureg	Nomadic ethnic group of the Sahara known for their indigo-colored clothing and use of camels for transportation.
tectonic plates	Separate sections of the earth’s crust that move independently and collide with each other, causing earthquakes and volcanic activity.
tectonic plates	Separate sections of the earth’s crust that move independently and collide with each other, causing earthquakes and volcanic activity.
the troubles	The term used in the United Kingdom for the political conflict in Northern Ireland.
the troubles	The term used in the United Kingdom for the political conflict in Northern Ireland.
trade triangle	Three-way trade agreement between Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia where each country contributes what it can provide and receives what the other countries have to offer.
trade triangle	Three-way trade agreement between Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia where each country contributes what it can provide and receives what the other countries have to offer.
Trans-Siberian Railway	Longest railway line in the world (completed 1916), connecting St. Petersburg in western Russia with Vladivostock in Russia’s Far East.
Trans-Siberian Railway	Longest railway line in the world (completed 1916), connecting St. Petersburg in western Russia with Vladivostock in Russia’s Far East.
troposphere	Layer of the earth’s atmosphere that extends from the surface of the earth to approximately six miles above the earth.
troposphere	Layer of the earth’s atmosphere that extends from the surface of the earth to approximately six miles above the earth.
Tuareg	Nomadic ethnic group of the Sahara known for its indigo-colored clothing and use of camels for transportation.
Tuareg	Nomadic ethnic group of the Sahara known for its indigo-colored clothing and use of camels for transportation.
tundra	Biome with short growing seasons and colder temperatures that is usually found in northern latitudes near the Arctic.
tundra	Biome with short growing seasons and colder temperatures that is usually found in northern latitudes near the Arctic.
Turkestan	Alternative term for the region of Central Asia named after the Turkish people who moved through the area centuries ago.
Turkestan	Alternative term for the region of Central Asia named after the Turkish people who moved through the area centuries ago.
Type D (continental) climates	Climate found in places far from oceans, with extremes of summer and winter temperatures and moderate precipitation.
Type D (continental) climates	Climate found in places far from oceans, with extremes of summer and winter temperatures and moderate precipitation.
Vernacular regions	Large area defined by boundaries based on people’s perceptions or thoughts.
Vernacular regions	Large area defined by boundaries based on people’s perceptions or thoughts.
von Thünen model	A model that seeks to predict agricultural land use in a closed economic system, with only one market surrounded by land of uniform quality.
von Thünen model	A model that seeks to predict agricultural land use in a closed economic system, with only one market surrounded by land of uniform quality.
Wallace’s Line and Weber’s Line	Imaginary lines drawn on a map through Indonesia demarcating the separation of plants and animals between the Asian realm and the Austral realm, which accounts for the uniqueness of the flora and fauna of Australia and New Zealand.
Wallace’s Line and Weber’s Line	Imaginary lines drawn on a map through Indonesia demarcating the separation of plants and animals between the Asian realm and the Austral realm, which accounts for the uniqueness of the flora and fauna of Australia and New Zealand.
weapons of mass destruction (WMD)	Chemical, nuclear, or biological weapons that could cause the deaths of innocent civilians on a massive scale.
weapons of mass destruction (WMD)	Chemical, nuclear, or biological weapons that could cause the deaths of innocent civilians on a massive scale.
yurt	A traditional, round, tent-like dwelling of nomadic people of Mongolia that can be disassembled and moved as the people migrate with their herds of livestock to new grazing areas.
yurt	A traditional, round, tent-like dwelling of nomadic people of Mongolia that can be disassembled and moved as the people migrate with their herds of livestock to new grazing areas.