Ancient IndiaVocabulary Notes

Subcontinentlarge landmass that is a distinct part of a continent

India is considered a subcontinent of Asia.

monsoon

strong winds usually with heavy rain

plateauraised land that is flatter than a mountain

Hinduismmain religion from India that believes in karma and reincarnation

polytheist religion

SanskritAncient Indian writing

ancient Indian religious texts were written in sanskrit

vedasSet of writings important to Hinduism

deitiesAnother name for gods

Famous Hindu deities include: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva

Statusposition or role in society

Caste SystemA system from ancient India that separated people by status and each person had a role

the system originates from Hinduism

karmathe idea that your actions have consequences

If you do good things, then good things will happen to you.

If you do bad things, then bad things will happen to you.

Dharmameans to follow rules to live a good and honorable life

vegetariana person who doesn’t eat meat

Hindus are vegetarians because they value all living things. Many Buddhists are too.

vegetariano

Ganges Rivermajor river in India that Hindus consider to be holy

Río Ganges

philosophy

a set of beliefs a person follows

Buddhismfocuses on meditation to end suffering and achieve enlightenment

religion that branched off from Hinduism

Buddha“The Buddha” means “Enlightened One”

The first Buddha was an Indian Prince who wanted to end human suffering

His name was Siddhartha Gautama

Buda

EdictLaw or rule

monka man who devotes his life to his religion

monje

enlightenment

overcoming suffering and desire

ilustración

NirvanaThe final stage and lasting peace that buddhists reach when they are fully enlightened

typically, it means they have severed all attachment to material items

meditationsitting quietly and clearing your mind of thoughts

meditación

Ashoka the Greatruler during the Mauryan Empire who became a peaceful Buddhist after watching so many people die in war

He spent his later years traveling all over India and nearby countries spreading Buddhism. He thought it would be a way toward unity among nations.