A World of Words: The Middle East and Central Asia - Introductory

Practice this list to learn all about the geography of the Middle East and Central Asia. Discover the countries, religious traditions, and natural resources of this part of the world. Explore features of the desert, learn about Middle Eastern architecture and clothing, and familiarize yourself with different types of rulers, including emirs, sheiks, and sultans.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. abaya
    a loose black robe from head to toe
  2. Abu Dhabi
    a sheikhdom of eastern Arabia and capital of the United Arab Emirates
  3. accord
    a written agreement between two states or sovereigns
  4. Afghanistan
    a mountainous landlocked country in central Asia
  5. agriculture
    the practice of cultivating the land or raising stock
  6. Anatolia
    a peninsula in southwestern Asia that forms the Asian part of Turkey
  7. aqueduct
    a conduit that carries water over a valley
  8. aquifer
    underground layer of rock or sand that yields groundwater
  9. Arab
    a member of a Semitic people from the Middle East
  10. Arabian Desert
    a desert on the Arabian Peninsula in southwestern Asia
  11. Arabian Peninsula
    a peninsula between the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf
  12. archipelago
    a group of many islands in a large body of water
  13. arid
    lacking sufficient water or rainfall
  14. autonomy
    political independence
  15. Baghdad
    capital and largest city of Iraq
  16. Bahrain
    an island country in the Persian Gulf off the coast of Saudi Arabia; oil revenues funded progressive programs until reserves were exhausted in 1970s
  17. basin
    the geographical area drained by a river and its tributaries
  18. Beirut
    capital and largest city of Lebanon
  19. burka
    a loose garment (usually with veiled holes for the eyes) worn by Muslim women especially in India and Pakistan
  20. canal
    long and narrow strip of water for boats or for irrigation
  21. caravan
    a procession traveling together in single file
  22. caravanserai
    an inn in some eastern countries with a large courtyard that provides accommodation for caravans
  23. Christianity
    a monotheistic system of beliefs and practices based on the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus as embodied in the New Testament and emphasizing the role of Jesus as savior
  24. civil law
    the non-criminal legal code established by a state or nation
  25. civil war
    a war between factions in the same country
  26. clan
    group of people related by blood or marriage
  27. coastal
    located on or near or bordering on a shore
  28. conquest
    the act of defeating and taking control of
  29. conservation
    careful management of the environment and natural resources
  30. constitution
    law determining the fundamental principles of a government
  31. crusade
    fight a holy war
  32. dam
    a barrier constructed to contain the flow of water
  33. Dead Sea
    a saltwater lake on the border between Israel and Jordan
  34. deforestation
    the removal of trees
  35. democracy
    a political system in which power lies in a body of citizens
  36. democratic
    representing or appealing to the people at large
  37. demonstration
    a public display of group feelings
  38. desalinization
    the removal of salt, especially from sea water
  39. desert
    arid land with little or no vegetation
  40. development
    making some area of land or water more profitable or useful
  41. domesticate
    adapt something wild to the environment
  42. drought
    a shortage of rainfall
  43. Dubai
    port city in the United Arab Emirates on the Persian Gulf
  44. election
    a vote choosing the winner of a position or political office
  45. elevation
    distance of something above a reference point
  46. emir
    an independent ruler or chieftain
  47. emirate
    the domain controlled by an emir