| A | B |
|---|
| Aryans | They were herding people who spoke an Indo-European language who migrated to South Asia in 1500 B.C.E. They practiced a limited amount of agriculture. Depended much on pastoral economy. Horses were very valuable to them. Cattle were a major source for their wealth. They also consumed both dairy and beef products. |
| Harappans | Harappan society was established in 2500 B.C.E. Developed I the valley of the Indus River. It was developed for two major reasons. Silt deposits raised the level of land and water table has risen. It was a very well established society |
| Ecological Degradation | Harappan Society was in a time of decline. They deforested the Indus Valley so they could clear the land for cultivation to gain firewood. The ecological changes reduced agricultural yields. |
| Sewage System | Every house had a sewage system. They had bathrooms with showers and toilets. They all drained to systems. They system of Mohenjo-daro were the best in the ancient world. |
| Vedas | collection of hymns, songs, prayers honoring the god of Aryans. They are the most earliest most important of which is the “Rig Veda”. “Rig Veda” is a collection of 1,028 hymns for the gods. The word “veda” means “knowledge”, so it refers to the knowledge the priests have. |
| Caste | the social class of hereditary and usually unchangeable status Scholars have referred it as and India social order. Caste identities developed slowly and gradually as the Aryans established settlements throughout India. |
| Varna | the Aryans used this word. It’s a Sanskirt word meaning “color” to refer to major social classes. The social distinctions arose partly from differences complexion between the Aryans who considered themselves as “wheat-colored” |
| Jati | as Vedic society became more complex and generated increasing specialized occupations the caste system served as the umbrella for a complicated hierarchy of sub castes. |
| Brahman | each person participates in a larger cosmic order and forms a small part of a universal soul. The highest goal of the individual soul however was to escape this cycle of birth and rebirth |
| Lawbook of Manu | delt with the relationships and moral behavior of the people. It reflected the Aryan influence. It said women’s most important duties were to have children ad maintain the household. It says that men had to honor women. |
| Unpanished | means sitting in front. It refers to the practice of disciples gathering before a sage for discussion of religious issued. Most were men. Gargi Vakaknavi was a women. |
| Samsara | one of the several doctrines that the Upanishads had. Samsara held that upon death, individual souls would go temporally to the world of the fathers and then return to earth in a new incarnation |
| Karma | another one of the doctrines created by the Upanishads. Karma accounted for the specific information that souls experienced |
| Sati | An Indian custom demonstrated in dramatic fashion the dependence of women on their men. A widow would voluntarily threw herself o the funeral pyre of her dead husband to join him. |
| Red Veda | the songs were collected in the Rig Veda throw considerable light on Aryan values during this period. The chief of this was Indra. He was the god of war. |
