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Ch.4
Term | Definition |
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Subcontinent | A large landmass that is part of a continent but is considered an independent entity either geographically or politically |
Monsoons | Seasonal winds in India |
Citadel | A fortress |
Vedas | Sacred writings of the Indo-Aryans |
Rejas | Leaders of ancient cities in India |
Varnas | The four social classes in Vedic society |
Castes | Social classes in the ancient Indian class system |
Hinduism | The largest religion in India; Hindus believe that everything in the world is a power of Brahman, the single great universal being; they also believe in reincarnation and strive to break free from the cycle of rebirth |
Reincarnation | In Hinduism, the belief that after one dies, the soul is reborn into a different form |
Karma | In Hinduism, the totality of a persons's good and bad deeds and the way in which they affect that individual's fate in the afterlife |
Moksha | in Hinduism, the escape from the cycle of rebirth |
Dharma | in Hinduism. the religious and moral duties of an individual |
Yoga | A series of physical and mental exercises that teaches people how to focus their bodies their bodies and minds |
Jainism | A religion of India, founded about the same time as Buddhism and in reaction to some Hindu Practices;believers renounce worldly things, embrace self-discipline, and practice nonviolence |
Ahimsa | In Jainism,nonviolence and respect for all living things |
Buddhism | The religion found by Siddhartha Gautama, which teaches the Four Noble Truths and following the Eight-fold Path |
Buddha | Siddhartha Gautama also call Buddha |
Four Noble Truths | In Buddhism, the guidelines that are the essence of the Buddha's teaching: that life is suffering, that desires cause suffering, that the annihilation of desires can relieve suffering, and that the way to relieve suffering is to follow the Eight-Fold Path |
Eight-Fold Path | The Middle Way and part of the Four Noble Truths that Buddha taught as the means to Nirvana or enlightenment |
Nirvana | In Buddhism, the release from the world and the achievement of peace and enlightenment |
Middle Way | Basic Buddhist teachings of the Eight-fold Path;it advises people to live in moderation,avoiding the extremes of either comfort or discomfort in search for nirvana |
Loess | Fine yellowish soil blown from the desert regions |
Court | A gathering of nobles around a monarch |
Oracle bones | Inscribed animal bones used to predict the future |
Mandate of Heaven | The Chinese belief that royal authority is the result of divine approval |
Dynastic cycle | The rise and fall of the Chinese dynasties |
Confucianism | A belief system based on the teachings of Chinese philosopher Confucius that stressed treating one another humanely and honoring one's family |
Daoism | A system of ideas and beliefs based on the teaching of Chinese thinker Laozi, who believed that people should live a simple, honest life and not interfere with the course of natural events |