Ancient India Vocabulary NotesClimate & Geography

Monsoon Seasonal wind patterns that cause wet and dry seasons.

Subcontinent Large landmass that is part of a continent but considered a separate region. (Below Asia, separated by mountains.)

Himalayas Highest mountains in the world which stretch along India,

separating India from China and the rest of Asia.

Hindu Kush Mountain range to the northwest of India.

Harappan Ancient civilization that developed along the Civilization Indus River.

Sanskrit Most important language of Ancient India.

Society

Caste System Social class a person belongs to by birth.

Karma The effects of good or bad actions on a person’s soul.

Reincarnation Rebirth of a soul in another body; the only way to improve caste is to have good karma and then be reborn into a

higher level.

Brahmanism Early religion of the Aryans.

Hinduism Developed from Brahmanism and has grown into the third largest religion in today’s world.

Aryans People who invaded India from central Asia and developed the caste system and a belief system, Brahmanism, which led to Hinduism.

Buddhism Religion that began in India and is based on the teachings of Siddhartha.

Siddhartha Founder of Buddhism also known as the Gautama Buddha, or “enlightened one”.

Nirvana State of perfect peace..

Dharma Collective teachings of Buddha, often represented by a wheel.

Asoka Greatest Maurya king who began rule in 272B.C.

Ahimsa Nonviolence

Mohandas Ghandi 20th century Indian who helped lead his country to indenendence using nonviolence to resist British colonial rule.

Indian Achievements

Hindu-Arabic Numerals we use today that originated in Numerals India and were brought to the west by Arab trade.

Metallurgy Metal Working

Inoculation Injecting a person with a small dose of a virus to help build up defenses to

a disease.

Astronomy The study of the stars and planets.