Chapter 4 Vocabulary North Africa and Southwest Asia Today

oasis A green area in a desert fed by underground water

terrorism the use of violent acts against civilians to achieve certain goals

delta area formed from soil deposited by a river at its mouth

silt Small particles of rich soil

secular non-religious

constitutional monarchy form of government where a king or queen is head of state, but elected officials run the government

dictator all-powerful government leader

aquifer underground rock layers that store large amounts of water

mosque places of worship for followers of Islam

embargo an order that restricts trade with another country

Islamic Republic a government run by Muslim religious leaders

Bedouin a nomadic Arab of the deserts of Southwest Asia

moshav a cooperative settlement of individual farms in Israel where people share in farming, but also own some private property

shah a title given to kings who ruled Iran

wadi a dry riverbed filled with rainwater from rare downpours

desalinization taking salt out of seawater

alluvial plain an area built up by rich fertile soil left by river floods

hajj a religious journey to Mecca that Muslims are expected to make at least once during their lifetime

kibbutz settlement in Israel where people share property and produce goods