Mohenjo-Daro

Means "hill of the dead", a mound where archeologists discovered the ruins of a city in ancient India

Well planned city with a residential section (lower city) and a citadel - or public building section.  Build on mud platform to protect against floods

Subcontinent

A large land mass that juts out from a continent. 

India is a subcontinent.  Scientists believe that India was originally a land mass that broke off from Africa and moved eastward.  When it hit the continent it formed the Himalaya mountains.

Hindu Kush

A 500 mountain range that is a sub-range of the Himalaya mountains.  It's location is actually in modern day Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Hindu Kush means Hindu slaughter, because of various ancient battles in that region

Tributary

A stream that flows into a river or one of it's main stems

The Tropics

The area bordered by the Tropic of Cancer on the north and the Tropic of Capricorn on the south. 

The Tropic of Cancer runs through India.  

The area in the Tropics does not experience seasons because the sun is always at the highest point.

Monsoons

Stong winds that blow across Asia.

From October through May they flow from the northeast bringing dry cool winds.

From June throught September they flow across the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea and bring heavy rains

Sanskrit

Ancient Indian language. 

It is one of the oldest languages along with Greek and Latin and there are many similarities between the languages

Caste System

A system to divide people into social groups.  It was developed as a way for the Aryans to control all parts of the Indian population in ancient times.  It still exists in India today.

Classes are called Varna

Vedas

Religious poems and hymns

Buddhism

A major world religion that began in ancient India.

Based on the teachings of Siddhartha Guatama, who lived from 563-483 B.C.

Nivana

The goal of all who practice Buddhism. 

It is the goal to attain lasting peace within one's self.

Meditating

To focus the mind in order to find "deep thinking" (Beth's notes)

4 Noble Truths

1. All people experience suffering and sorrow

2. Their suffering and sorrow is caused by greed, hatred, and ignorance

3. Suffering can eliminated by overcoming it's cause

4. People can overcome the causes of suffering by following the Eightfold Path

Eightfold Path

In Buddhism, this is the path to overcoming the causes of human suffering.  (Study eight items from separate list)

Karma

In Buddhist teachings, Karma means that people themselves are responsible for their own misery and happiness by their own actions and deeds

Dharma

In Hinduism, the religious and moral duties of a person

Aryans

 The Aryans were a group of warrior-nomads who took over the Indus Valley around 1500 B.C.

Aryan means of high or noble birth.

Guru

A spritual teacher.  Also, in ancient India, and area in the forest where eduction was given.

  Brahmans

Under ancient India's caste system, the Brahmans were the priests and highest class.  They were the only ones allowed to read and teach the holy texts, or Vedas, perform rituals and sacrifices,

Sharecroppers

Villagers who rent land and pay rent with their crops

Chandragupta Maurya

Ancient Indian ruler who brought warring Indian states together under one empire. 

He was known for believing in absolute power, employed spies and was ruthless in crushing revolts.

India saw great development under his rule, including expansions of roads, irrigation systems and weath from trade.

Maharaja

Means great king. 

Siddhartha Gautama

The founder of Buddhism.  He was a prince who turned away from the king to pursue spiritual enlightenment.

Ashoka

A ruler of the Maurya empire of ancient India.  He was the grandson of Chandragupta I.   After the famous war of Kalinga, in which killed many people, Ashoka renounced violence and war and began to promote Buddhism. 

Rhajas

Rulers of republics under the Aryans

(check notes for another definition)

Buddha

Means "enlightened one".  The supreme Buddha is Siddhartha Gautama, who founded Buddhism with his teachings.

Shudras

The lowest  and largest of the four classes in ancient India's caste system.  They were the laborers, farmers and herders.

Chandragupta II

A leader who expanded the Gupta empire around 375-413 A.D.  Do not confuse with Chandragupta Maurya, who ruled the Maurya empire around 300 B.C.

Chandragupta I

Leader of the Gupta empire from about 320-375 A.D. (C.E.)

Ganges River begins in

The Himalayan mountains

What is the ultimate goal of the Eightfold Path?

Nirvana

Name the three large rivers important to India

The Indus, the Ganges, and the Brahmaputra

Name the four castes in ancient India

Brahmins - priests

Kshatriyas - chiefs and warriors

Vaisyas - merchants and landowners

Shudras - farm workers and servants

What does the Hindu term Brahman mean?

the single spiritual power that lives in everything

What is reincarnation?

The belief that after a person dies their soul is reborn in another

What does the Hindu term Moshka mean?

Moshka is the highest position someone can attain.  Once this has been achieved the soul is at one with Brahman and there will be no more reincarnation

What does Ahimsa mean?

The ethical principle of non-injury to people and animals