Ancient India

Chapter 6

History Makers, Terms, and Locations

subcontinent: A large landmass that is part of a

continent but distinct from it.

monsoonA strong wind that blows one direction

during the summer and the opposite

direction during the winter.

Sanskrit:Written language developed by the

Aryans

raja:A prince who led an Aryan tribe in India

and ran their own small kingdoms that

often fought against one another.

caste:A social group that began in Ancient

India, where a person is born into a position and cannot change.

guru:A religious leader and spiritual guide

in Hinduism

Hinduism

polytheistic religion based on a mixture of Aryan and Harappan beliefs

Brahman

The priests in Indian society, Brahmans were the only ones who could perform

religious ceremonies.

reincarnation

The idea of being born into many lives (never dying) to reach the Brahman level of Hindu society

dharma

divine law that requires people to do the duty of their jati (level in the caste system)

karma

the consequences of how a person lives in regards to his/her jati(level in the caste)

Buddhism

religion started by Siddharta Gautama around 600 BC in reaction to Hinduism

nirvana

Not a place but a state of wisdom that a person reaches if he gives up all desires

theocracy

government ruled by religious leaders

dynasty

line of rulers from the same family

stupa

dome or mound shaped Buddhist shrine

pilgrim

person who travels to a religious shrine or site

Locations

Himalayas

A mountain system forming a barrier

between India and the rest of Asia.

Ganges River

A river in India that flows from the

Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal.

Indus River:

A river in Asia that begins in Tibet and flows through Pakistan to the Arabian Sea.

Harappa:

Ancient city in the Indus River valley in present-day Pakistan.

Harappa

Artist’s rendition of what Harappa might have looked like

Mohenjo-Daro: An ancient settlement in the Indus

Valley.

• Nepal– Mountain country between India and China

• Tibet– Country in central Asia (where Dalai Lama

is leader)

• Pataliputra– capital city of both the Maurya and Gupta

empires

History Makers

Aryans

Part of a group called Indo-Europeans,

The Aryans lived in central Asia and

were good warriors, expert horse riders

and hunters.

Siddharta Gautama• Born 530 BC • Founder of Buddhism • Known as Buddha or “enlightened

one”

Dalai Lama

Lama or Buddhist leader who headed the government and is considered the reincarnation of the Buddha

Chandragupta MauryaThe founder of India’s first empire and the Mauryan dynasty,

Chandragupta was an Indian prince who conquered a large area in the Ganges River soon after Alexander the Great invaded western India.

Asoka

India’s ruler from about 273 B.C.E. to 232 B.C.E.

Asoka is considered to be the Gupta empire’s first great Buddhist king.