| A | B |
|---|
| Reincarnation | rebirth of the soul |
| dharma | in Hindu belief, the code of conduct for members of various classes in Indian society |
| caste | a fixed social grouping |
| karma | the accumulated good and bad acts of one's previous lives |
| Mandate of Heaven | the apporval of the gods for rulers to hold power, according to the early Chinese |
| bureucrat | a trained public official |
| subcontinent | a large mass, such as India, that is geographically and culturally distinct from the rest of a continent |
| rajah | an Aryan warrior chosen to be chief of his tribe |
| filial piety | respect for one's parents and ancestors |
| feudalism | a political system in which nobles are granted the use of the king's land in exchange for service to him |
| Yellow River Valley | location of the first Chinese civilizations |
| Hinduism | the religion of most of India's people, characterized by the goal of returning to Brahman through reincarnation |
| epic | long poem detailing adventures of heroes |
| vedas | ancient Hindu writings that describe wise sayings, religious rituals, and hymns |
