Social Studies Vocab

Cultural diffusion

Process of spreading idea, languages, and customs from on culture to another.

Export

To sell goods or resources to other countries

Culture

The way of life of a group of people who share similar beliefs and customs.

Immigration

The process of people coming into a foreign country to live there

Tariff

Tax added to the price of goods that are imported.

Import

To buy resources or goods from other countries.

Irrigation

process of collecting water and distributing it to crops

Republic

Government in which people/elect their leaders

boycott

To refuse to buy items from a particular country

Famine

Severe lack of food

Nomads

People who live by moving from place to place with herd of animals they hunt or lead to pasture

Terrorism

Violence used against the people or government in the hopes of winning political goals

Silt

Small particles of rich soil

Petroleum

A kind of oil that comes from below the ground that is the source of gasoline and other products

Hydroelectric power

A form of energy generated by converting free-falling water to electricity

Communism

A political system where the government controls everything about society (including the economy)

Drought

A long period of time without rainfall

Population density

Average number of people living in a square mile/kilometer

Rural

A geographic area that is located outside of cites and towns

Capitalism

A economic system that feature private ownership of industry and the means of production

Deforestation

Cutting down of forests without replanting new trees

Developing nation

Country that has limited industry, where agriculture remains important and incomes are generally low

Polytheism

Belief in more than one god

Standard of living

Measurement of how well people eat and live and how good their health care is

Revolution

Sweeping change (politically, economically, or socially)

Command economy

Economic system where government decides how resources are used and what goods/services are produced

Monotheism

Belief in one god

Developed country

Country with a mix of agriculture, manufacturing, and service industries and a high standard of living

United Nations

International organization of countries that promotes international peace, security, and cooperation

Literacy rate

Percentage of people with the ability to read and write

Desertification

Process by which dry areas turn into desert

Colonialism

Policy of one nation extending or maintaining its authority over other peoples or territories

Cash crop

farm product grown for export

Extended family

household made up of several generations, including grandparents, parents and children

Urbanization

growth of (or mass movement into) cities

Monarchy

government led by a king or queen who inherited power by being born into a ruling family

Nuclear family

Family group that includes only parents and their children

Refugee

Person who flees to another country to escape persecution or disaster

Ethnic group

People with a common language, history, religion, and some physical traits

Democracy

For of limited government in which power rests with the people

Smog

A thick haze of smoke and chemicals

Subsistence farming

Growing only enough food to feed one’s family

Nationalism

Strong feelings of affection and loyalty towards one’s country

Interdependence

A condition that exists when countries rely on each other for idea, goods, services, and markets

Infrastucture

A system of roads and railroads that allows the transport of materials

Gorge

Like a canyon, a steep-sided valley formed when rivers cut through the land

Globalization

Development of worldwide culture with a interdependent economy

City-state

An independent political unit that includes a city and surrounding area

Calligraphy

The art of beautiful writing

Aquifer

Underground layers of rock through which water falls