Ancient India Vocabulary

a strong wind that brings heavy rain to southern Asia in the summer

a passage dug into the earth, through which liquids flow

a flat area of land that is elevated, or raised, above the land around it

a fortress built to protect a city

a large landmass that is smaller than a continent

one of the first major settlements in ancient India that became a center of the Indus valley civilization

an early civilization, known for its advanced culture, that developed in India

a group from Central Asia who moved into India and established Vedic society

India’s first civilization, located along the Indus River

the religion founded by Siddhartha, which teaches that life brings suffering that one can escape by seeking nirvana through enlightenment

a religion that developed in India over many centuries; it traces its roots to older traditions, such as Vedic beliefs and Brahmanism

a religion founded in India propagated by Mahavira that promotes nonviolence

a monotheistic religion founded by Guru Nanak that promotes honesty and equality

nonviolence and respect for living things

the Hindu concept that people are born with a set of skills that help them serve one of the four general needs of a functioning society

a concept found in Hinduism and other Indian traditions about how the good and evil done in a past life determines what happens to one’s soul in the next life

the idea that all existing things in reality come from one original source

a belief found in Hinduism and other Indian traditions that a person has a duty or obligation to live an honorable life

a state of peace that is free from suffering and desire

language of Ancient India

a collection of religious poems, myths, and hymns that influenced Hinduism

focusing one’s mind on spiritual ideas

 a social order that has determined one’s place in Indian society