Ch. 8: Indian Religions

an Aryan tribal chief

• pariah

• hermit

• rajah

• Kshatriya

the language of the Aryans

• Brahmans

• Vedas

• Moksha

• Sanskrit

“Books of Knowledge” which formed the basis of the Aryan religious practices

• Vedas

• varnas

• Vaisyas

• epics

a long poem that tells a story, usually about a hero

• epic

• jati

• karma

• rajah

a rigid social structure developed in Hindu India which involved ranking by birth

• karma

• ahimsa

• caste system

• moksha

the four main social classes outlined in the Vedas

• jati

• karma

• dharma

• varnas

Hindu social class made up of common people: merchants, artisans, and farmers

• Brahmans

• Kshatriyas

• Sudras

• Vaisyas

Hindu social class made up of warriors and government leaders

• Brahmans

• Kshatriyas

• Sudras

• Vaisyas

Hindu social class made up of servants and unskilled laborers

• Brahmans

• Kshatriyas

• Sudras

• Vaisyas

Hindu social class made up of priests

• Brahmans

• Kshatriyas

• Sudras

• Vaisyas