| A | B |
|---|
| Aryan | Warriors and herders who came from Eastern Europe to India about 3,000 years ago. |
| Sanskrit | A language of India, first spoken by ancient Aryans. |
| Vedas | Books of ancient Hindu sacred writings. |
| reincarnation | The belief that the soul lives on after death and returns to life in a new body. |
| Hinduism | A religion native to India, featuring the belief in many gods and reincarnation. |
| caste | An unchanging class or group in India's society. |
| untouchables | In India, people below all castes. The name came from the idea that others would be made dirty and impure from their touch. |
| Buddhism | An Asia religion based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, who became Buddha. |
| "Enlightened One" | Another name for Siddhartha Gautama, also known as Buddha. |
| Brahmans | Highest caste in Indian society, priests and scholars, considered to be the head. |
| Kshatriyas | Second highest caste in Indian society, rulers and warriors, considered to be the arms. |
| Vaisyas | Third caste in Indian society, farmers and merchants, the legs. |
| Sudras | Lowest caste in Indian society, laborers, craftworkers, servants, the "feet" of society. |
| Siddhartha Gautama | Founder of Buddhism in India. Known as Buddha or "Enlightened One," he gave up worldly goods to search for enlightenment. |
| rajah | An Indian prince. |
| assassination | Murder for a political reason. |
| turning point | A time of important change. |
| missionary | A person sent out to teach about his or her religion. |
| Arabic numerals | The base-ten number system: 1 through 9 and the zero; used in India as early as A.D. 595. |
| inoculation | Giving a person a mild form of a disease so that he or she will not get sick from a more serious form. |
| Chandragupta Maurya | Emperor who united India. Gave up throne to his son, Asoka, in 297 B.C. |
| Asoka | Mauryan emperor, remembered as "the greatest and noblest ruler India has known." |
| Chandragupta I | Mauryan emperor A.D. 320, began reunifying India after 500 years of unrest. Gave up throne to son Samudra Gupta. |
| Chandragupta II | Grandson of Samudra Gupta, encouraged learning and enlarged empire. |
| Samudra Gupta | Mauryan emperor, son of Chandragupta I |
| plateau | A high, flat area of land. |
| cavalry | Soldiers who ride horses or other animals to make swift attacks. |
| tribute | Yearly payments. |
| courier | A person who delivers messages. |
| prophet | A peerson who others believe speaks or writes a divine message. |
| Persia | An ancient empire that included the ancient lands of Persia, Egypt, Syria, Assyria, Mesopotamia and Babylon. |
| Cyrus the Great | Leader who built the Persian Empire and conquered Babylon. |
| Zarathustra | Persian religious leader who founded a religion now known as Zoroasterism. |
| Zoroasterism | A religion that teaches the belief in two gods - one good and one evil. |
| Darius | Persian ruler brought order to the Empire, built roads, established postal system, standardized weights, measures and coinage. |
