Unit 5: Ancient India Vocabulary

A belief in more than one god.

• polytheism

• monotheism

• atheism

the belief that souls will be reborn into new bodies or lifeforms after death until released from the cycle.

• reincarnation

• dharma

• atman

• karma

the endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth; the opposite of nirvana

• karma

• samsara

• dharma

• nirvana

strong seasonal winds in South and Southeast Asia

• Monsoon

• Hurricane

• Cyclone

• Earthquake

a strict social class system in India that divides people into hereditary castes

• multi-level marketing

• vaste system

• caste system

• caste foundaiton

a large, distinct landmass that is part of a continent

• subcontinent

• neocontinent

• continent

• microcontinent

a religion that developed in India over thousands of years and spread across the world.  Many followers believe in a supreme being (Brahman) that can take many forms.

• Buddhism

• Islam

• Hinduism

• Christianity

n Hinduism, a state of being influenced by a person’s actions and conduct; determines the kind of life into which a person will be reborn. 

• karma

• dharma

• samsara

• nirvana

a sacred body of water to Hindus that begins high in the Himalaya Mountains and empties out into the Bay of Bengal

• Ganges River

• Brahmaputra River

• Indus River

• Tigris River

the Buddha's teachings, divine law. Also understood as your obligation to live a dutiful life.

• samsara

• moksha

• karma

• dharma