GLOSSARY
accused a person who has been charged with a criminal offence acupuncture a medical practice in which long, sharp needles are inserted under the skin as a means of diagnosing, relieving or curing illness agriculture cultivation of land, growing crops or raising animals alluvium the loose material brought down by a river and deposited on its bed, or on the þoodplain or delta amenities features that make a place more pleasant or attractive amulet charm believed to protect against evil anaesthetic a drug to deaden pain ancient history the period from the beginning of civilisation to the fall of the Roman Empire appropriate technology technology designed for a speciýc place, is affordable and locally repairable aquaculture the rearing of aquatic animals, or the cultivation of aquatic plants for food. Aquaculture was a major part of the pre-European settlement economies of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. aqueduct a structure built to carry water long distances aquifer a body of permeable rock below the Earth’s surface that contains water, known as groundwater; water can move along an aquifer arid lacking moisture; especially having insufýcient rainfall to support trees or plants artefact an object made or changed by humans artesian aquifer an aquifer conýned between impermeable layers of rock; the water in it is under pressure and can þow upward through a well or bore artiýcer a craftsperson or inventor artisans skilled craftspeople Asiatic peoples of Asia, including the Middle East aspect feature or quality, or the direction something is facing astrology interpreting the inþuence of the stars on human affairs atmosphere the layer of gases surrounding Earth auxiliaries soldiers in the Roman army drawn from areas conquered by Rome and made part of its empire avalanches rapid movement of snow down a slope, usually under the inþuence of gravity; can also be triggered by animals, skiers or explosions balance of power when minority parties/independents inþuence government decisions barbarians the Roman term for all peoples who lived beyond the borders of the empire barometer an instrument used to measure air pressure beyond reasonable doubt the standard of proof required in a criminal trial where the prosecution must prove that the accused is guilty to such a high degree that a reasonable person would have little doubt that the accused committed the crime biased one-sided or prejudiced; seeing something from just one point of view bicameral a parliament with two houses biodiversity the variety of life in a habitat or ecosystem blasphemous great disrespect shown to God or to something holy, or something said or done that shows this kind of disrespect built environment a place that has been constructed or created by people bureaucrat a government ofýcial business any activity conducted by an individual or individuals to produce and sell goods and services to make a proýt Cabinet the top-level decision-making group within the Australian Government made up of most or all ministers
622 GLOSSARY
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