| A | B |
|---|
| subcontinent | a large land mass that is smaller than a continent |
| Indus | river in India |
| monsoon | A seasonal wind that dominates the climate of South Asia |
| varna | four classes of the Aryan People |
| rajahs | hereditary chiefs |
| caste | rigid system of social class based on birth |
| Hindi | most widely spoken language in India |
| Aryan sacrifices | centered around sacrifices to the gods |
| Ramayana & Mahabharata | famous Hindu epics |
| brahman | Hindu- a single supreme force |
| atman | essential self |
| moksha | freeing of the soul from the body so the soul can unite w/ brahman |
| karma | comes from a Sanskrit word meaning "to do" |
| dharma | duties and obligations |
| sikhism | religion that combines Hinduism & Islam |
| ahisma | nonviolence |
| dynasty | ruling family |
| Jainism | emphasized ahisma- vegetarians |
| stupas | shrines containing remains of Buddha |
| monopoly | complete control over a market or product |
| Asoka | Led Maurya Empire. Spread Buddhism |
| secular | no official religion |
| Gandhi | won support by stressing India's rich heritage |
| Upanishads and Vedas | Sacred writings and stories of the Hindu Aryans |
| Siddhartha Gautama | Founder of Buddhism |
| Decimal System | Method of representing fractions as parts of 100. Contribution of the Gupta Empire |
