Geography of the Arabian Peninsula VOCABULARY CHAPTER 7/ FRANKLIN

ENVIRONMENT The physical characteristics of a place, including climate and vegetation The desert environment is hot and dry with little plant life.

ADAPTATION Changes in a way of life that help people survive in a certain environment Terracing is an adaptation that allows people to farm and build on a mountain slope.

OASIS An area with fresh water within the desert In an oasis environment, people can grow fruit trees and other food.

NOMAD A person who moves from place to place, often in search of water or food Nomads adapt to the dry desert environment by traveling between water sources.

CARAVAN A group of people traveling together in the desert for mutual protection, often with camels or other pack animals Caravans brought trade goods across Asia to the Arabian Peninsula.

SEDENTARY Settled permanently in one place Farmers have a sedentary lifestyle.

IRRIGATE To bring water to a dry place in order to grow crops On the coastal plain, people built wells, dams, and systems to irrigate the land.

TERRACE A flat strip of land on a hillside used for growing crops. People in the mountains farmed the slopes by creating step-like terraces.