Caste System/Ancient India
Brahma
A single spiritual power that Hindus believe lives in everything
monsoon
A strong wind in India which brings heavy rains in the summer and drought conditions in the winter
Harappan civilization
Ancient settlements in the Indus River Valley
karma
Hindu concept that the sum of good and bad in a person's life will determine his or her status in the next life
Harappan/Mohenjo Daro technologies
Plumbing and sewers. They also planned their cities on a grid (like NYC)
Indus River
Unpredictable Flooding
Enlightenment
Wisdom
Mohenjo - Darro
an ancient Indian city along the Indus River well organized
Vaisyas
commoners ; artisans, merchants, and farmers 3rd in the caste system
meditation
focusing the mind on spiritual ideas.
fasting
going without food
Untouchables
outcasts of ancient Indian society did the unclean jobs Very bottom of the caste system
Aryans
people of Indo-European language family who migrated in India Conquered the Indus River Valley
Brahmans
priests top of the caste system
Vedas
sacred Aryan texts
Sudras
servants and unskilled workers 4th in the caste system
nonviolence
the avoidance of violent actions
Sanskrit
the most important language of ancient India
caste system
the social classes system of ancient India in which are born into a certain varna, which determines the job, friends, marriage partner they will have
Kshatriyas
warriors (who controlled the government and the army) 2nd in the caste system
reincarnation
In Hinduism and Buddhism, the process by which a soul is reborn continuously until it achieves perfect understanding
Himalayan Mountain Range
Natural Barrier between India and Asia *largest in the world*
dharma
Duty
Buddha
"Enlightened One"
Caste System
1. Brahmins (priests) 2. Kshatriyas (warriors) 3. Vaisyas (Merchants) 4. Sudras (unskilled workers) 5. Untouchables
Buddhism
A belief system based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, which stress freeing oneself from worldly desires.
subcontinent
A large area of land separated from the rest of a continent by geographic features.
Siddhartha Guatama
A prince who founded Buddhism, and gave up his power to become enlightened.
Hinduism
A religion native to India, featuring belief in many gods and reincarnation
