1. the trading of goods without the exchange of money
bartering
the trading of goods without the exchange of money

2. caravans
files of vehicles or pack animals traveling together

3. entourage
a group of followers

4. flourishing
growing extremely well

5. goods
items for sale

6. oasis
a green spot in a desert, where water can be found

7. primary
main; basic

8. vicinity
the region within close range of a place

9. medieval
the period in history from about A.D. 500 to A.D. 1450

10. floodplain
flat land along a river made up of soil left by floods

11. ladened
weighed down with heavy things

12. livestock
animals raised and kept on a farm

13. endure
to carry on despite hardships

14. compounds
houses or other buildings, enclosed by a wall or fence

15. set aside for a particular purpose
allocated
set aside for a particular purpose