 | Term | Definition |
| |
Indus River Valley Civilization |
The civilization located in Ancient India that lasted from 2600-1900 B.C.E. |
| |
Harappa |
A large ancient city of the Indus civilization; now located in present-day Pakistan |
| |
Aryan Migration |
When the Aryans migrated from Europe to Asia, and when they left little evidence to show us how they lived, except from the Vedas |
| |
Vedic Age |
The time period from 1500 B.C. to 500 B.C. This is when the Aryans migrated over form Asia and left of evidence from the Vedas. Therefore, we call this time period the Vedic Age. |
| |
Rig-Veda (Vedas) |
)- a collection of prayers, hymns, and other religious teachings developed in ancient India beginning around 1500 B.C. |
| |
Hinduism |
the polythiestic religion where the ultimate goal is Moksha and this is not attained, it is and endless cycle of reincarnacion |
| |
Brahman |
in the belief system established in Aryan India, the single spiritual power that resides in all things |
| |
Atman |
in Hindu belief, a person's essential self |
| |
Moksha |
in Hindu belief, the ultamite goal of existence, which is to achieve union with brahman |
| |
Karma |
in Hindu belief, all the actions that affect a person's fate in the next life |
| |
Dharma |
in Hindu belief, a person's religious and moral duties |
| |
Ahimsa |
Hindu belief in nonviolence and reverence for all life |
| |
Samsara |
the endless series of births, deaths, and rebirths to which all beings are subject |
| |
Varnas/jatis (caste system) |
the system that ranked you into different groups and in those groups you fulfilled the job that that particular does. |
| |
Upanishads |
a section of the Vedas that address mystical questions related to Hinduism. |
| |
Mahabharata |
it is India''s greatest epic and it tells about the battles that rival Sryan tribes faught to gain control of the Ganges region |
| |
Ramayana |
a smaller story that recounts the fantastic deeds of the daring hero Rama and his bride Sita |
| |
Bhagavad-Gita |
a story that represented the Hindu beliefs |
| |
Jainism |
the religion that grew out of Hinduism and Jains strictly are ascetic and peaceful. Mahavira was the creator of Jainism |
| |
Asceticism |
the practive of dedication of his or her life to a pursuit of contemplative ideals and practice of extreme self-denial or self-mortification for religious reasons |
| |
Vardhamana Mahavira |
The creator of Jainism |
| |
Buddhism |
the religion where you are expected to good and worship Buddha. Your goal is to reach Nirvana by meditation |
| |
Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) |
The creator of Buddhism who taught his beliefs throughout Asia and is now one of the world's main religions |
| |
Four Noble Truths |
the 4 statements that Buddhism revolves around or the heart of Buddhism |
| |
The Noble Eightfold Path |
a guide to show what you should do to fulfill your life and what you must commit yourself to in the process of gaining nirvana |
| |
Nirvana |
union with the universe and then to be released from the cycle of rebirth |
| |
Mauryan Empire |
the civiliztion dating from 321-185 B.C that controlled much of northern India |
| |
Chandragupta |
1st main leader of the Mauryan Empire who was well organized and focused a lot of trade |
| |
Asoka |
The grandson of Chandragupta who also was a leader of the Mauryan Empire. He converted to Buddhism from Hinduism and tolerated other religions other then Buddhism when he was the leader. He is the most honored leader of the Mauryan Empire and controlled a very successful civilization. |
| |
Gupta Empire |
a civilization dating from 320-540 C.E. in northern India. The gupta Empire had 2 main leaders, Chandragupta and Chandragupta II |
| |
Mughal Empire |
the civilization started by Babur dating from 1526-1857 that strecthed from the Himalayas to the Deccan Plateau |
| |
Akbar |
the cheif builder of the Mughal Empire who lead the Mughals from 1556-1605 and he establihsed a strong central government |
| |
Shah Jahan |
the son of Akbar who had the Taj Mahal built for his wife who died at age 39 |
| |
Aurangzeb |
the person who took power from Shah Jahan in 1658 |
| |
Sikhism |
a religion founded by Nanak, who blended beliefs of Islam and Hinduism |
Share on Facebook
Share on MySpace