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Topic 4
Early Civilizations of India
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| subcontinent | a large landmass that is set apart from the rest of the continent |
| granary | special building used to hold grain |
| river system | main river and all of the other rivers and streams that drain into it |
| citadel | fortified area |
| monsoon | seasonal wind that brings rain to the Indian subcontinent during parts of the year |
| Veda | collection of hundreds of sacred hymns composed by the Aryans of ancient India |
| varna | grouping based on one's skill |
| caste | fixed social class into which a person is born |
| jati | occupation-based caste |
| guru | thinker or teacher |
| dharma | a person's duty or what is right for him or her |
| Brahman | in Hinduism, the supreme cosmic consciousness, spiritual force, or God |
| ahimsa | avoiding doing harm to any living thing |
| reincarnation | rebirth of a soul in a new body |
| moksha | liberation from reincarnation |
| karma | in Hinduism, the effect of a person's action in this and in previous lives |
| meditate | calm or clear the mind, often by focusing on a single object |
| enlightenment | in Buddhism, a state of perfect wisdom |
| nirvana | a state of blissful peace without desire or suffering |