Ancient India and China Flashcards
Harrappa
Ancient Indian City
Mohenjo Daro
Ancient Indian City, no one knows how it declined
Aryans
took over India in 2000 BC
Vedas
Ancient Sacred writings of the Aryans
Rigveda
Oldest veda that established the caste system
Varnas
Levels of the Caste System (Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas, Sudras
Ramayana
Hindu epic, a model of the ideal couple Rama and Sita
Dharma
Spiritual duties and obligations
Karma
sum of a person’s actions
Moksha
Liberation from the cycle of reincarnation
Samsara
Reincarnation
Brahma
the Creator
Vishnu
The Preserver
Siva
The Destroyer
Mahabharata
ancient hindu epic about a war between two families at the Ganges River Valley
Gita
Dialogue between the warrior Arjuna and Krishna within the Mahabharata
Krishna
Vishnu in Human form
Ahisma
Jainist nonviolence
Nirvana
Perfect peace attained by holding to the eightfold path
Middle Way
Living in moderation, avoiding extremes
Theravada
“Way of the Elders” - emphasis on becoming monks and society serving the monks
Bodhisattvas
People who have found enlightenment but haven’t passed into nirvana. Seen as mahayana teachers
Ashoka
Indian King who helped spread buddhism (200 BC)
Zen
Mahayana Buddhism that emphasized self-discipline and meditation