| Question | Answer |
| Vedic | The culture of Aryan India |
| Varnas | Classes in Aryan Indian society based on the functions fulfilled by their members. |
| Castes | Exclusive and restrictive hereditary occupational groupings, based on birth and ranked in hierarchical order |
| Jatis | Regional subcastes in India, each identified with a certain trade, a specific locale and often a particular god or goddess |
| Samsara | The belief that each being has an eternal spiritual core which is reborn or reincarnated into a new body after the old one dies |
| Dharma | The faithful performance of the duties pertaining to one's caste or station in life: such performance determines ones fate in the next life |
| Karma | One's fate or destiny in the next incarnation as determined by performance of dharma in this life |
| asceticism | The practice of extreme self denial and renunciation of all possessions |
| moksha | Liberation from the cycle of death and reincarnation in Hinduism |
| Nirvana | A state of infinite tranquility and peace |
| stupas | A massive domed edifice constructed o stone used as a temple for Buddhist pilgrimage and worship |
| Upanishads | Philosophical and religious texts composed by learned writers over many centuries beginning in late Vedic India |
| Mahavira | teachings based on the teachings by this man. AKA the great hero or Jina the conqueror |
| Siddhartha | The original Buddha. The enlightened one after claiming some peace and salvation was bestowed upon him . Now they have the Four Noble Truths |
| Ashoka | Chandragupta's grandson proving to be Mauryan rulers. Defeated older brothers to become only to become a Buddhist |
| In what ways were India's societies and cultures like those of West Asia and North Africa? | There was no single society but a wide variety of societies interacting through various connections. Connections shaped by Harappan, Aryan and Dravidian influences. |
| In what way did West Asia and North Africa differ? | literature was focused on connections between physical and spiritual forces. |
| How did the caste system develop in ancient India? | the family structure was stratified, hierarchial and stable |
| What were the advantages and disadvantages of the caste system | Advantage : kept classes together
disadvantages : discrimination in classes |
| How did Dharma and Samsara reinforce the system? | Belief in reincarnation |
| What were the basic beliefs of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism? | good living would get you to the next step, nirvana, reincarnation and Karma |
| How did Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism support, challenge the political and social structures | gave the people a choice |
| How and why did Buddhism divide into separate branches | different religions and beliefs |
| How and why did Hinduism endure as a popular religion | promoted a self reliance and self inner religion |
| What factors hindered political unity in India? | multiple societies |
| What factors helped political unity flourish? | social interactions |
