Download Vocabulary (*) denotes words you must know

Vocabulary
Mapping
(*) denotes words you must know
*bar scale– a graphic that compares the distance on a map to the actual distance it represents,
as in one inch represents 100 miles
*compass rose– a directional arrow that shows cardinal and sometimes intermediate
directions on a map
*cardinal directions– directions of north (N), south (S), east (E), and west (W)
*intermediate directions– directions of northeast (NE), northwest (NW), southeast
(SE),
and southwest (SW)
*legend (key)- a list that explains the symbols on a map
inset map– a smaller map set within the border of a larger one
political map– a map that shows human-made features and boundaries such as cities,
highways, and countries
international border– a border between countries
contiguous– sharing an edge or boundary; touching
absolute location- the exact location
*latitude- lines that run parallel to the equator/left to right/east to west
*longitude- lines that run north to south/meet at the north and south poles
Geography Terms
*globe- A model of the earth that shows the earth’s shape, lands, distances and directions as
they truly relate to each other
*geography- the study of earth and how we use it. Also the study of the world’s people, places
and environment
*geographer- a person who studies earth and its people
*geographic tools- globes, maps and graphs
*hemisphere- half of the globe; Equator divides earth into northern and southern, Prime Meridian
divides earth into eastern and western hemispheres
*latitude- location north or south of the Equator, measured by imaginary lines (parallels) numbered in degrees north or south
*longitude- location east or west of the Prime Meridian, measured by imaginary lines (meridians)
numbered in degrees east or west
*scale bar- on a map, a divided line showing the map scale, usually in miles or kilometers
*scale- relationship between distance on a map and actual distance on the earth
*relief- differences in height in a landscape how flat or rugged the surface is
*elevation- height of land above sea level
*contour line- line connecting all points at the same elevation on a contour map
*cartographer-mapmaker
*projection– a system for mapping the round Earth onto a flat surface.
Chapter 1.1
internet– a global network of computers
global
ethnic groups - a group of people who have a common origin and share language and a history
customs– practices handed down from the past
minority group– people who share a common culture, language, or history
majority group– group in society that controls most of the wealth and power, though not always the largest group in numbers
sociologists– scientists who study organized groups of people
Chapter 1.2
social scientists-people who organize information to help people understand the world around
them; also examine new beliefs and values which allows us to view what makes people and
places special.
anthropologists– study people and societies
sociologists- study human behavior as it relates to groups of people
historians- study how societies came together
human geographers– look at people and their environment
culture- the way of life of people who share similar beliefs and customs
ethnocentrism- values are ―centered‖ or based on those of your own particular ethnic group
culture borrowing- the adoption of one group’s culture traits by another group
culture diffusion- how a culture spreads its knowledge and skills from one area to another
history- is the story of the past
limited government- through law, some control is placed on leadership’s power (democracy,
constitutional monarchy)
democracy– form of government in which citizens choose the nation’s leaders by voting for
them
unlimited government- power belongs to the ruler or rulers (dictatorship, absolute monarchy)
dictatorship- government under the control of one all-powerful leader
absolute monarchy- form of government in which the king or queen governs with complete
power
constitutional monarchy- government in which a king or queen is the official head of state,
but elected officials run the government
traditional economies- meet needs or basis of customs
command economies- government makes all decisions
market economies- individuals determine for themselves
mixed economies- combination of two
industrialized countries- country in which a great deal of manufacturing occurs
developing countries- countries working toward industrialization
Chapter 1.3
migrate – to move
urbanization—movement to cities
refugees – people who are forced to leave their homelands because of wars or unjust government
rights– benefits and protection guaranteed to you by the law
responsibilities– duties that you owe to your fellow citizens to make sure that the government continues
civic participation- being concerned with the public affairs of a community, state, nation or world
civic rights- benefits and protections guaranteed to you by law
civic responsibilities- duties that you owe to your fellow citizens to make sure that the government
continues
interdependence- depending on other countries for goods, and raw materials
globalization- development of world culture and interdependent economy
Chapter 2
landform – individual feature of the land, such as a mountain or valley
environment– natural surroundings
region– area that shares common characteristics
Global Positioning System (GPS)- group of satellites that travels around the earth, which can be
used to pinpoint an exact location on the earth
geographic information systems (GIS)-special software that helps geographers gather and use different kinds of information about a place
plate tectonics– theory that the earth’s crust in not an unbroken shell but consists of plates. Or
huge slabs of rock, that move
fault– crack in the earth’s crust
plain– low-lying stretch of flat or gently rolling land
plateau-flat land with higher elevation than a plain
canyon– deep, narrow valley with steep-sides, which a river has cut through a plateau
aquifer– underground rock later that stores large amounts of water
climate– usual, predictable pattern of weather in an area over a long period of time
tropics– low-latitude region between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn
greenhouse effect– buildup of certain gases in the atmosphere that, like a greenhouse, prevent the
warm air from escaping into the atmosphere, resulting in increase of the earth’s overall temperature
conservation– careful use of resources so they are not wasted
pesticide– powerful chemical that kills crop-destroying insects
ecosystem– place where the plants and animals are dependent upon one another and their surroundings for survival
crop rotation– varying what is planted in a field to avoid using up all the minerals in the soil
deforestation– widespread cutting of forests
acid rain– rain containing high amounts of chemical pollutants
Chapter 3
civilization– culture that includes certain elements such as a system of writing, cities, and workers
with specialized jobs
city-state– city and its surrounding countryside
theocracy– form of government in which one individual ruled as both religious leader and king
cuneiform– Sumerian form of writing using wooden triangular-shaped sticks in the form o hundreds
of different e=wedge-shaped markings on moist clay tablet
empire– group of lands under one ruler
pharaoh– ruler of ancient Egypt
polytheistic– believing in more than one god
embalmed– to treat a body to protect it from decay
pyramids– huge stone structure that served as an elaborate tomb o monument
hieroglyphics– ancient form of writing that used signs and symbols
papyrus-tall plant of the Nile valley, used in making a form of paper
scribe– one who records information by writing
monotheism– belief that there is only one God
scapegoat– someone to blame for their troubles
disciples- follower of a specific teacher
messiah– in Judaism and Christianity, a savior sent by God
Crusades– holy wars sponsored by the Catholic Church to capture Jerusalem from the Muslims
Chapter 4
silt– small particles of rich soil
oasis– green area in a desert fed by underground water
dictator- all powerful government leader
terrorism– systematic use of violence or terror to achieve certain goals
secular– nonreligious
embargo– order that restricts or prohibits trade with another country
Chapter 5
shah– titles given to kings who ruled Iran
Islamic republic– government run by Muslim religious leaders
Subcontinent– large landmass that is part of a continent but distinct from it
monsoon– seasonal wind that blows for months at a time, often affecting a region’s climate
green revolution– great increase in food grains production due to the use of improved seeds,
pesticides, and efficient farming techniques
cottage industry-home– or village-based industry in which family members supply their own
equipment to make goods
prime minister– official who heads the government in parliamentary democracy
cyclone– intense storm system with heavy rain and high winds
Chapter 6
communist state– country whose government allows little or no private ownership of property
and has strong control over the economy and society as a whole
free enterprise system– economic system that operates on free competition, in which people start
and own business with limited government intervention
invest– to put money into a business
consumer goods– goods people buy to use for themselves, such as household products, clothing, and
Chapter 6
―one-country, two-systems– China’s policy of blending capitalism and some Western freedoms with
Chinese communism
dynasty– line of rulers from the same family
human rights– basic freedoms and rights, such as freedom of speech and freedom of assembly,
that all people should have
exile– unable to live in one’s own country, usually because of political beliefs
high-technology industry– industry that produces computers and other kinds of electronic
equipment
nomad– a person who moves from place to place with herds of animals
empire– group of lands under one ruler
Chapter 7
famine– extended, usually widespread, severe lack of food
Chapter 8
socialism– economic system in which many businesses are owned and run by the government
civil war– fight between different groups within a country
Chapter 9
democracy– form of government in which citizens choose the nation’s leaders by voting for them
philosophy– term derived from Greek, meaning ―love of wisdom‖
republic– nation with a strong national government headed by elected leaders
consul-elected chief official of the Roman Republic
senate– legislative body of government; the supreme council of the ancient Roman Republic
emperor– absolute ruler of an empire
Chapter 10
human resources– supply of people who can produce goods
textiles– woven clothunion– labor organization that negotiates for improved worker conditions and pay
strike– refusal to work, usually by a labor organization, until demands are met
Imperialism system building foreign empires for military and trade advantages
alliance– political agreement between countries to support each other in disputes
with other countries
communism– economic, social, and political system, based on the teachings of Karl
Marx, which advocated the elimination of private property
Holocaust-systematic murder by Adolf Hitler and his followers of more than 12 million European Jews, during World War II
genocide– mass murder of a people because of their race, religion ethnicity, politics,
or culture
Cold War– conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union dating from the
late 1940s to the late 1980s, when the two super-powers competed for world influence without declared military action at each other
nuclear weapon-weapon whose destructive power comes from an uncontrolled nuclear
reaction
capitalism-economic system, that allows private ownership and open competition of
businesses
European Union-trade alliance among many European counties, formerly called the
Common Market
Euro-common currency adopted by countries in the European Union
Chapter 11
parliamentary democracy-system of democratic government where the executive
power is held by a cabinet composed of members of the legislature; headed by a
prime minister
republic-nation with a strong national government headed by elected leaders
federal republic-form of government in which the national and state governments
share powers
reunification-bringing together the two parts of Germany under one government
neutrality-refusing to take sides in disagreements and wars between countries
continental divide-mountainous area from which rivers flow in different directions
welfare state-country that uses tax money to provide social services for sick, needy,
jobless, or retired people
geothermal energy-electricity produces by natural underground sources of steam
parliamentary republic-parliamentary government that also has a president, who acts
as head of state
coalition government-government in which two or more political parties work together to run a country
Chapter 12
consumer goods-goods people buy to use for themselves, such as household products,
clothing, and cars
ethnic cleansing-forcing people from a different ethnic group to leave their homes
refugee-person who glees to another country to avoid persecution or disaster
mosque-place where worship for followers of Islam
Chapter 13
Eurasia-region that lies on both the European and Asian continents
urban-relating to the city
suburb-smaller community located in the area surrounding a city
rural-relating to the countryside
tundra-vast, rolling, treeless plain in high latitude climates in which only the top few
inches of ground thaw in summer
heavy industry-industry that produces goods such as machinery, mining equipment,
and steel
light industry-industry that produces goods such as clothing, furniture, and household products
nomad-person who moves from place to place with hers of animals
Chapter 14
czar-title of Russian emperor
serf-peasant laborer
communist state-country whose government allows little or no private ownership of
property and has strong control over the economy and society as a whole
free market economy-economy driven by forces including competition, supply, and
demand
nuclear energy-power created by controlled atomic reaction
Chapter 15
free enterprise system-economic system that operates on free competition, in which
people start and own businesses with limited government intervention