Vocabulary of Ancient India

Subcontinent  An area separated by physical features from the rest of the world. In this case, 2 huge mountain ranges separate India from the rest of Asia. One of those ranges is the Himalayas.  How might this be good or bad for people of Ancient India?

monsoon  A strong wind that blows in one direction in winter and the opposite direction in summer.  The winter monsoon brings the cold, dry air off the Himalayan mountains.  The summer monsoon brings the warm, wet air from the Arabian Sea, producing drenching rains that many farmers celebrate.  See map on page 195!  01-india- monsoon_big.jpg&imgrefurl= _bna8sv6RPoBvnlc943a8vfpqiC8=&h=307&w=461&sz=52&hl=en&start=8&sig2=Zp4nFIp6AHpGurE5 JXUjag&zoom=1&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=CXBhj0D65czMyM:&tbnh=85&tbnw=128&prev=/images%3F q%3Dmonsoon%2Bindia%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26tbs%3Disch:1&ei=w4IkTczSMsS YnAf8zIDtDQ 01-india- monsoon_big.jpg&imgrefurl= _bna8sv6RPoBvnlc943a8vfpqiC8=&h=307&w=461&sz=52&hl=en&start=8&sig2=Zp4nFIp6AHpGurE5 JXUjag&zoom=1&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=CXBhj0D65czMyM:&tbnh=85&tbnw=128&prev=/images%3F q%3Dmonsoon%2Bindia%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26tbs%3Disch:1&ei=w4IkTczSMsS YnAf8zIDtDQ 

Sanskrit  Written language developed in Ancient India by the Aryans.

caste  A social group that someone is born into and cannot change.  Whatever job your mom and dad have, you will also have. Lucky for some, very unfortunate for others.  Also dictates who you can marry and who you can hang out with. You don’t spend time with people outside your caste  See the Caste or “Social System” of India on page 200.

Brahmins  The name given to priests in Ancient India

reincarnation  Rebirth of the soul or spirit in a different body or different life form over time.  A Hindu belief that one will be reborn or reincarnated as another figure, usually an animal, in their next life. This belief affects how they live their lives.

Dharma  In Hinduism, the divine law that requires people to perform the duties of their caste  If you are born to be a farmer, you must farm according to the beliefs of your religion, and the order bestowed upon you from your gods

nirvana  In Buddhism, a state of wisdom and freedom from the cycle of rebirth.  A person can reach this state by giving up all wordly desires and wants described in the “4 Noble Truths” of Buddhism

Theocracy  A type of government used in Ancient India, headed by religious leaders

stupas  A Buddhist shrine that is shaped like a dome or mound.  King Asoka ordered laborers to build thousands of stupas for him throughout the Ancient World of India  See picture on page 211 in textbook!