Apartheid
Apartheid is a policy that means "apartness" in Afrikaans language. This divides people into four racial groups: White, Black, Colored, and Asian. Apartheid was an attempt to separate the racial groups more exactly the non-whites and the whites in South Africa restricting some things for a specific race.
One-Party System
A one party system is a system where a single political party controls the government and elections are barley used. This is most commonly seen in dictatorships after African countries gained independence.
Patronage
Patronage is when leaders or dictators give their loyal followers and friends high paying positions in the government. In extreme cases officials require bribes for government contracts or licenses and also rum government enterprises for own personal profit, they can also steal money from the government's treasury. Mobutu Sese Seko was convicted of doing so in the Republic of the Congo also renamed as Zaire.
Desertification
Desertification is the spread of desert like conditions and land. This is happening in Africa, areas near the Sahara Desert. This can threaten African growth and the people living there. The desert is a harsh place and people cannot live or grow anything there. If the desert continues to grow people will have to move and farming land will be lost.
Negritude Movement
The Negritude Movement is a phase were a new type of literature was formed. It was created in french speaking colonies in West Africa in the 1930's. This writing didn't have European culture, but instead focused on African culture.
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
The Middle East is rich with oil, it exports more than two-thirds of the oil today. Countries like Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait have some of the largest oil reserves. These countries have so much oil that they started the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). This organization attempts to regulate oil exports to increase revenues.
Six-Day War
This war started when Egypt wanted the UN to remove its troops from the Middle East. Egypt started advancing their troop also closing off the Gulf of Aqaba. This was Israel's route to the Red Sea and trading. Thinking there would be an Arabic attack on them, Israel launched its first attack on Jordan, Syria, and Egypt. During the six day war Israel took control of Golan Heights, the Sinai Peninsula, Gaza Strip, West Bank, and East Jerusalem.
Yom Kippur War
Egypt and the other countries wanted the land that they lost from the six day war back from Israel so in 1973 Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel. This attack took place on the Jewish holiday, Yom Kippur which names the war. Israel and its leader, Golda Meir was not ready for attack so they called on the USA for help. With the USA's help Israel was able to push back Egypt and Syria. After a few weeks both sides decided to cease fire.
Camp David Accords
The Camp David Accords were a peace agreement between Egypt and Israel. Egypt said they recognized Israel as its own country and declared peace while Israel returned the Sinai Peninsula back to Egypt. This accord ended 30 years of dispute between Israel and Egypt in 1978
Intifada
The Intifada was street violence between Israel and Palestine starting in 1987. Israel settlements near Palestine angered the people near by and this anger turned into violence. The youth in Palestine battled Israeli police and continued until the 1990's.
Iranian Revolution
In 1978 the Iranian people started a revolt against the shah of Iran,Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, lead by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Khomeini was the Shia religious leader and inspired the people for a revolution. Unable to stop the revolt the shah fled from Iran causing the Iranian Revolution. They started a new government in 1979 making Iran an Islamic Republic and making Khomeini their leader.