| A | B |
|---|
| Polytheism | The belief in many gods or goddesses. |
| Civilization | ”A society that has a high level of culture and social organization including organized government |
| cultural diffusion | The spreading of ideas through contact such as trade or war |
| subcontinent | ”Large area that is a separate part of a continent. The area encompassing India |
| Vedas | A Hindu holy book which is a collection of Aryan hymns that were transmitted orally before being written down in the 6th century BCE |
| Upanishads | Hindu holy book from the 8th century BCE |
| Ramayana | Hindu epic story about the hero Rama who was the incarnation of the god Vishnu |
| Mahabharata | Hindu epic poem that was written in Sanskrit in the 5th century BCE. Its most important part is the Bhagavad-Gita. |
| A Hindu holy book where the god Krishna teaches the importance of selflessness | performing religious duties |
| Caste System | A rigid social class system in Hinduism. |
| Brahma | Hindu god called the Creator. Brahma is the first member of the triad that includes Vishnu the Preserver and Shiva the Destroyer. |
| Vishnu | Hindu god called the Preserver. Vishnu is the second member of the triad that includes Brahma the Creator and Shiva the Destroyer. |
| Shiva | Hindu god called the Destroyer. Shiva is the third member of the triad that includes Brahma the Creator and Vishnu the Preserver. |
| Untouchables | ”Members of Hindu society thought to have been removed from the Caste System |
| Samsara or Reincarnation | is a central teaching of Hinduism |
