term/name | details |
Himalayas | largest mountains in world in North Eastern India |
Ganges | main river system in India or South Asia |
South Asia | another word for India in old times |
Indo-Gangetic Plain | name of rich settled lands around the Ganges river system |
Deccan Plateau | largest plateau in India |
Indus | river in South Asia where first civ was located |
Pakistan | name of modern country that Indus River flows though today |
monsoon | seasonal winds that bring over 60% of all annual water needs in summer |
Indian Ocean | below India |
Khyber Pass | opening in Hindu Kush mts North West of India |
Hindu Kush | name of mountains that have Khyber Pass into India |
Indus River Valley | first settled area of South Asia (India) |
Harappan | name of first civilization in India |
Mohenjo-Daro | another city in Harappan civ of ancient India |
Harappa | name of big city in Indus River Valley civilization |
urban planning | Harappans had gridded streets and patterns to their citys which showed they were deliberatly designed or planned |
granary | building used by ancient gov't to store grain for famine |
citadel | fortress of Harappans |
sanskrit | oldest writing form in world in India |
urban | means city |
Aryans | light invaders into India conquered original people |
Dravidians | original or native people of India |
raja | local prince or king |
caste system | social order of 4 groups in India |
Brahmin | top of caste-priests, teachers |
Kshatriyas | warriors or gov't officials |
Vaisyas | commoners, farmers, merchants |
Sudras | day laborers or workers |
Untouchables | below all, people considered unclean due to jobs like handling dead, garbarge, sweep streets |
guru | wise teacher of Hinduism |
sati | widow must die when husband does |
cremation | burn dead bodies to release the soul to next life |
saddus | holy Hindu men |
dowry | price or gift given by bride's family to groom |
arranged marriage | family picks who you marry |
patriarchal | males dominant in society |
joint family | means extended family or more than 1 generation living under same roof |
Hinduism | oldest relgion in world |
polytheism | belief in many deities |
Brahman | creator of life, all gods are a form of him |
dharma | one's duty to follow rules of religion and caste to get better next life |
karma | extra good or bad you do in this life will affect your next life |
reincarnation | belief that one has many many lives--one's soul is reborn into many life forms |
cow | sacred to Hindu religion |
yoga | form of meditation to lead one to God--4 kinds, path of knowledge, love, work, and meditation |
moksha | end of all lives, no more reincarnation, one with Brahman |
Vishnu | preserver |
Siva | the destroyer |
temple | place of worship for Hindus |
Hindu | believer of Hinduism |
Vedas | oldest religious writings in world --Hindu stuff written into palm leaves |
Siddhartha Gautama | founder of Buddhism goal was to teach others how to be happy |
Buddha | means enlightened one or smarter one |
6 bce | Buddhism founded by Siddhartha |
Four Noble Truths | main ideas Buddhism is based upon--all life full of pain, we can ease pain by following 8 rules |
Eightfold Path | list of 8 rules to live by to be a better Buddhist and gain wisdom-know 4 truths, decide what we want, speak truth and well, no killing lying, stealing, etc..meditate... |
mediation | technique to gain control and wisdom-form of searching for peace |
stupas | stone towers housing relics of Buddha |
relic | body parts, or items worn or used by someone deemed sacred |
Mauryan Dynasty | first original India empire |
dynasty | rulers in a family--king inherits job |
province | organized part of an empire with king appointed governor |
Asoka | greatest king of ancient India-devoted to people after conquests |
kalinga | battle that changed Asoka's life |
Buddhism | philosophy begun by Siddhartha |
edicts | official gov't messages |
Gupta Empire | golden age of Indian culture and invention |
Mahabharata | longest poem in world, 90,000 stanzas about warring cousins and moral dilemmas and gods |
epic | long long poem with heroes |
plastic surgery | perfomed in Gupta India on injured warriors |
suggical tools | over 100 iinvented by Guptas |
Aryabhata | brilliant mathematician and scientist--Pi and decimal systems and concept of 0 |
Ramayana | another poem about Rama--hero king and his wife--good over evil |
Kalidasa | great romantic poet--earlier form of our Shakespeare-brilliant skill with language |
Ajanta | amazing 28 caves filled with Buddhist art done in 17 years |