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Indus River

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river that sources in the Himalayas and flows to its mouth in the Arabian Sea; location of the early civilizations Harappa and Mohenjo Daro

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Ganges River

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Located in India, this river is considered sacred to Hindus and is used for spiritual cleansing, funeral rites, and other Hindu rituals.

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Deccan Plateau

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a dry high region, south of the Indo-Ganges plain, between the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal

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Himalayas

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The highest mountains in the world, which stretch along northern India, separating it from the rest of Asia.

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Monsoon

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a seasonal wind pattern in southern Asia that blows warm, moist air from the southwest during the summer, bringing heavy rains, and cold, dry air from the northeast during the winter

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Aryans

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Indo-European speaking nomads who entered India from the Central Asian steppes between 1500 and 1000 BC and greatly affected Indian society.

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Sanskrit

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The sacred language of ancient India; came originally from the Aryans.

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Vedas

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Ancient Sanskrit writings that are the earliest sacred texts of Hinduism.

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Vedic Age

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A period in the history of India 1500 - 1000 BCE; a period of transition from nomadic pastoralism to settled village communities, with cattle the major form of wealth.

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Epic Age

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A period of time in India that followed the Vedic Age and lasted from 1000-600 B.C.E. in India. The important epics of the time were Mahabharata, Upanishads and Ramayana.

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Mahabarata

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India's greatest epic; includes the Bhagavad Gita (welfare and religion)

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Ramayana

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A Hindu epic written in Sanskrit that describes the adventures of the king Rama and his queen

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Upanishads

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A major book in Hinduism that explains the Hindu idea of the divine force informing the whole universe.

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Brahmins

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The priest varna of the caste system.

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Kshatriyas

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The warrior and aristocrat varna of the caste system.

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Vaisyas

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third level of the varnas in the Hindu caste system; identifies merchants who engaged in commerce

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Sudras

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caste that made up most of the Indian population; most were peasants and manual laborers; they had limited rights in society

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Untouchables

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also called pariahs, lowest level of the Indian society; not considered a part of the caste system; did degrading jobs

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Indra

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chief deity of the Aryans; depicted as a colossal, hard-drinking warrior God of thunder and strength

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Chandragupta Maurya

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founder of Maurya dynasty; established first empire in Indian subcontinent; first centralized government since Harappan civilization

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Maurya Dynasty

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INDIAN DYNASTY: vast capital, well organized bureaucracy, public works, libraries, schools. Great leader - Asoka- created the pillars of law, converted to Buddhism, sent missionaries to Asia, became a philosopher king, was tolerant of other religions., (323-185 BC)

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Ashoka

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Third ruler of the Mauryan Empire in India (r. 270-232 B.C.E.). He converted to Buddhism and broadcast his precepts on inscribed stones and pillars, the earliest surviving Indian writing.

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Dharma

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In Hinduism, the duties and obligations of each caste, the Hindu ethical concept

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Tamils

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Southern Indians who traded cotton, silks, and many other materials with the Middle East and with Rome. Reflected the strong merchant spirit in classical India.

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Kushans

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Dynasty that succeeded the Mauryas in northwestern India; sponsors of Buddhism; empire did not extend to Ganges River valley., came into central India from northwest; greatest king: Kanishka, converted to Buddhism but hurt religions population;

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Gupta Empire

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Golden Age of India; ruled through central government but allowed village power; restored Hinduism. 320 - 647 CE., promoted peace and prosperity, flowering in the arts and learning, students were educated in religious schools, taught mathematics, medicine physics, languages, literature, and other subjects. mathematicians devised the system of writing number that we use today, originated the concept of zero and developed the decimal system. Indian physicians were using herbs and other remedies to treat illness. Surgeons were skilled in setting bones and in simple surgery to repair injures.

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Chandragupta I

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Founded the Gupta empire in 320 C.E. Became the golden age for India.

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Hinduism

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A religion and philosophy developed in ancient India, characterized by a belief in reincarnation and a supreme being who takes many forms

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Gurus

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originally referred to as Brahmans who served as teachers for the princes of the imperial court of the Guptas.

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Brahma

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A Hindu god considered the creator of the world.

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Vishnu

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A Hindu god considered the preserver of the world

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Shiva

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A Hindu god considered the destroyer of the world.

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Reincarnation

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belief that the individual soul is reborn in a different form after death

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Samsara

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(Hinduism and Buddhism) the endless cycle of birth and suffering and death and rebirth

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Yoga

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A spiritual discipline; a method for perfecting one's union with the divine.

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Bhagavad Gita

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A short section of the epic poem Mahabharata in which the god Krishna teaches the great warrior Arjuna about bhakti marga and other ways to God; Hinduism's most popular text.

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Buddha

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An Indian prince named Siddhartha Gautama, who renounced his wealth and social position. After becoming 'enlightened' (the meaning of Buddha) he enunciated the principles of Buddhism.

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Nirvana

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in Buddhism, the release from pain and suffering achieved after enlightenment

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Kamasutra

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Written by Vatsayana during Gupta era; offered instructions on all aspects of life for higher caste males, including grooming, hygiene, etiquette, selection of wives, and instruction on lovemaking

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Stupas

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religious buildings that originally housed Buddha relics. Stupas developed into familiar Buddhist architecture

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1500 - 1000 BCE

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Vedic Age in India

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1000 - 600 BCE

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Epic Age in India

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563 BCE

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Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) born

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Theravada

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"Way of the Elders" branch of Buddhism followed in Sri Lanka and much of Southeast Asia. Theravada remains close to the original principles set forth by the Buddha; it downplays the importance of gods and emphasizes austerity and the individual's search for enlightenment.

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325 -185 BCE

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Maurya Empire

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Jainism

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A religion founded in India in the sixth century B.C., whose members believe that everything in the universe has a soul and therefore should not be harmed.

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320 - 647 CE

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Gupta Empire in India

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Nalanda

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Famous Buddhist university of ancient india

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Himalayas

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The highest mountains in the world, which stretch along northern India, separating it from the rest of Asia.

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Regionalism

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loyalty to the interests of a particular region

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Atman

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In Hindu belief, a person's essential self

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Varna

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A caste in the Hindu caste system.

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Jati

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A Hindu caste or distinctive social group or sub caste of which there are thousands throughout India

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Dalit

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"the untouchables" Had to do lowest tasks like cleaning the streets, etc. So ritually impure that standing in one's shadow was considered impure.

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Four Noble Truths

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As taught by the Buddha, the four basic beliefs that form the foundation of Buddhism.

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Eightfold Path

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In Buddhism, the basic rules of behavior and belief leading to an end of suffering

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Mahayana

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"The Great Vehicle"; the largest of Buddhism's three divisions, prevalent in China, Japan, and Korea; encompasses a variety of forms, including those that emphasize devotion and prayer to the Buddhas and bodhisattvas

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Kalidasa

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Hindu philosopher and playwright of the Gupta period; influenced the development of Sanskrit literature.

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Kautilya

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Chandragupta's advisor--wrote the ruler's handbook, Arthasastra, which proposed policies to hold an empire together

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Deity

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A god; divine being

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Karma

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A person's deeds and actions; the moral law of cause and effect of actions; determines the nature of one's rebirth.

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Tripitaka

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'Three baskets'; the collection of early sacred writings whose three sections consist of discourses attributed to the Buddha, rules of monastic discipline, and treatises on doctrine

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Battle of Kalinga

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Battle that shocked Ashoka because of the bloodshed, thus causing Ashoka to convert to Buddhism.

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Kamasutra

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(Hinduism) an ancient Sanskrit text giving rules for sensuous and sensual pleasure and love and marriage in accordance with Hindu law

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Aryabhatta

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Famous classical mathematician, wrote a book that summarized Hindu mathematics, discovered pi, calculated the length of the solar system, and the circumference of the earth during India's Classical Era.

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