World Civilizations Chapter 4

Ashoka

(269-232 BCE) The outstanding Indian emperor of premodern times, admired by all Indians as the founding spirit of Indian unity and nationhood. Implemented Buddhism which fell back to minority after the dynasty fell.

Siddartha Gidarma

563-483 b.c.e. An Indian aristocrat, was the Buddha—or Enlightened One—and his life is fairly well documented (see the Patterns of Belief box). As a young man, he wandered for several years through the north of India seeking more satisfying answers to the riddle of life. Only after intensive meditation was he finally able to come to terms with himself and human existence. He then became the teacher of a large and growing band of disciples, who spread his word gradually throughout the subcontinent and then into East Asia. Buddhism eventu- ally came to be much more important in China and Japan than in India, where it was practically extinct by 1000 c.e.

Hinduism

A religion that involves Dharma, Karma, and the caste system.

Indus Valley Civilizations

Began around 6000 b.c.e., and by 4000 b.c.e. the region had a dense population and numerous for- tified farming villages. Agrarian, extensive trade with northwest India by 2350 BCE. Important cities are Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa.

Bactria

Compromised of 3 cities, commercial center that linked caravan routes from India, Iran, and distant China, and formed the western end of what came to be called the Silk Road.

Vedas

Contain Aryan history, Hindu holy scriptures written in Sanskrit.

Eightfold Path

Demands right (or righteous, we would say) ideas, right thought, right speech, right action, right living, right effort, right consciousness, and right meditation. The person who consistently follows these steps is assured of conquering desire and will, therefore, be released from suffering (nirvana).

Brahmanism

Each of the four classes played a rigidly defined role. Highly ritualistic and exclusive in nature. The priestly caste, Brahmins, had power by virtue of their mastery of complex ceremonies and their semimagical knowledge of the gods. Earliest form of Hinduism.

Laws of Manu

Early Hinduism principles. For example, one's birth family determines his caste, as it does the relationship of men to women and husbands to wives.

Nirvana

Enlightenment and release fro, suffering in Buddhism

Vedic Epoch

From 1500 to about 500 b.c.e. When the four classes evolved into something more complex by far: multiple social groups defined by birth, or caste

Aryans

Groups of Indo-European nomads (called Indo-Iranians), who created the Persian empire. They began a series of migrations out of their homelands (north of the Caspian Sea) into Iran, Afghanistan, and further east after 1500 b.c.e. For many of these Indo-Iranians, this was not the end of their pastoralist wanderings. Some continued their movement south from Afghanistan, through the Khyber Pass, and into the Indus Valley.

Brahmins

Highest Indian caste, the priest leaders

Maryan Dynasty

Indian dynasty, Buddhism, Ashoka was the greatest leader

Theravada Buddhism

Means "the narrower vehicle," is the stricter version of the faith. Emphasizes life in a monastery (Sangha) for both men and women and takes a rather rigorous approach to what a good person who seeks nirvana must believe. It claims to be the pure form of the Buddha's teachings and rejects the idea of the reincarnation of the Master or other enlightened ones (called bodhisattva; boh-dih-SAHT-vah) appearing on Earth. It is particularly strong in Sri Lanka and Cambodia.

Mahayana Buddhism

More liberal in its beliefs, viewing the doctrines of the Buddha as a sort of initial step rather than as the ultimate word. The word means "the larger vehicle," reflecting the belief that there are many ways to salvation. Its faithful believe that there are many buddhas, not just Siddhartha Gautama, and that many more will appear. Monastic life is a good thing for those who can assume it, but most of these Buddhists will never do so and do not feel themselves disadvantaged thereby. Mahayana adherents far outnumber the others and are found in Vietnam, China, Japan, and Korea.

Rigvedas

Oldest and most important Veda, paints a picture of a war-loving, violent folk, led by their Raja (RAH-jah), or chieftain, and their magic-working priests.

Dharma

One must strive for good karma by following this code of morals prescribed for one's caste as closely as one can. One meaning is "duty"; one has a "duty" to obey the rules of caste.

Taxila

One of the 3 cities of Bactria.

Bhakti

One of the major 3 Indian religions. A newer version of Hinduism. The gods assumed more personal attributes that made them more approachable. This change allowed individuals to seek spiritual fulfillment by devoting themselves to individual gods.

steppe land

Prairies grasslands unsuitable for agriculture. Civilizations who lived here raised and depended on livestock.

Caste

Social unit into which individuals are born and which dictates most aspects of daily life. It confers a status that cannot be changed. Each caste except the very lowest has special duties and privileges, some of which are economic in nature, whereas others are manifested by dietary and marital restrictions.

Shiva

The creator and destroyer (Hindu god)

Brahman

The impersonal life force (Hindu god)

Karma

The notion of order and "rightness" that is built into the structure of the universe. Like maat, too, it has a moral dimension: As a soul goes from one life to the next, good and bad deeds committed by an individual in a given life are tallied up. "Justice" is rendered as good karma, which results in birth into a higher caste in the next life—bad karma, into a lower one.

Vishnu

The preserver (Hindu god)

Silk Road

Trading route

Moksha

When a person has lived a life in perfect accord with his or her dharma, death will lead to final release from reincarnation and the great Wheel of Life.

Purduh

Windowed female's isolation from all male non relatives in Hinduism

Sati

Windowed female's suicide in Hinduism