India and China Flashcards
Monsoon
A seasonal wind pattern in southern Asia.
Sanskrit
The Aryan’s first writing system based on their language.
Raja
Aryan princes who ruled small states.
Caste System
An ancient Indian social system that determined a person’s occupation, economic potential, and societal position.
Varnas
The four major social classes in the Caste system.
Caste
The Portuguese word for the Indian word jati. A jati is based upon a person’s occupation and extended family network.
Hinduism
The belief in the existence of a single god, Brahman. The belief in reincarnation, karma, dharma, and the practice of yoga are also Hindu beliefs. Hinduism existed in India but many ordinary Indians couldn’t relate to it so they believed in many human-like gods instead of Brahman.
Reincarnation
The belief that the individual soul is reborn in a different form after death. After a number of existences in the earthly world, the soul reaches its final goal in a union with Brahman.
Karma
The force generated by a person’s actions that determines how the person will be reborn in the next life. According to this idea, what people do in their current lives determines what they will be in their next lives.
Dharma
The divine law that rules the concept of karma. Dharma requires people to do their duty according to their societal status. More is expected from members ranked higher on the social scale than of the lower castes.
Yoga
A method of training designed to lead to a union with Brahman. The word yoga means “union.” The goal of yoga was to leave behind the earthly life and achieve union with Brahman.
Buddhism
The rival of Hinduism founded by Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha–(Enlightened One)). Buddhism denies the reality of the material world and believes that any pain or sorrow that afflicts human beings is caused by attachment to physical things of the world. Buddhism believed that one should strive to reach Nirvana by acquiring Bodhi (wisdom).
The Budda’s teachings
- Ordinary life is full of suffering
- This suffering is caused by our desire to satisfy our physical selves
- The way to end suffering is to end desire for selfish goals and to see others as extensions of ourselves
- The way to end desire is to follow the Middle Path
Buddhism vs. Hinduism
Buddhism accepted the idea of reincarnation but rejected the idea that people are divided into different social levels. They believed that any human being could reach Nirvana which made it appealing to more people.
Additionally, Buddhism is more of a philosophy than a religion. It’s very simple and believes in only one god
Ascetics
People who practiced self-denial in order to achieve an understanding of ultimate reality. They abused their physical bodies.
Nirvana
ultimate reality– the end of the self and a reunion with the great world soul.
Aryans
A group of nomadic peoples who, at one point, controlled most of India. The Aryans were Indo-Europeans, not a racial or ethnic group. At first, they were pastoral people who had strong warriors, but eventually, they became farmers. The Aryan’s basic crops were wheat, barley, millet, rice, grain, vegetables, cotton, and spices. The Aryans invented Sanskrit. Small Aryan states were run by rajas and the states often fought each other.
Brahmans
The priests who were at the top of the caste system.
Kshatriyas
Warriors who were on the 2nd highest ranked position in the caste system
Vaisyas
Commoners who were merchants or farmers
Sudras
Peasants and laborers who had limited rights in society. Sudras made-up most of the Indian population.
Untouchables
Lowlifes who weren’t even ranked on the varna system. They were given degrading jobs and were looked down upon by the Indian society.
Siddharta Gautama (The Buddha) (The Enlightened One)
A privileged man who gave up his wonderful life to try to get rid of worldly problems such as sickness and death. He set out on a journey to find the meaning of life. At first, he went to the Ascetics, but, due to physical abuse of his body, he abandoned asceticism and began a period of meditation. One evening, the Buddha became enlightened and spent the rest of his life preaching the true meaning of life.
