Ancient India Vocab

Subcontinent

large landmass set apart from the rest of the world

River System

The main river and all other rivers and streams that drain into it

Monsoon

seasonal winds that bring a change of season

Granary

special building for holding grain

Citadel

Fortified area in the center of the city

Veda

Collection of sacred hymns composed by the Aryans

Caste System

The social hierarchy of India created by the Aryans that divided Indian society into groups based on a persons birth, wealth, or occupation. A caste is a fixed social class to which a person was born.

Brahmin

priests, the highest level of the caste system

Kshatriya

Rulers/Warriors (Below the brahmin)

Vaishya

Landowners, bankers, and merchants (below the kshatriya)

Sudra

Farmers, laborers, and servants (below the Vaishya)

Dalit

Bottom level of Caste System. Had jobs that nobody else wanted to do.

Hinduism

One of the world’s oldest religions

• Main religion in India

• Polytheistic

Reincarnation

Rebirth of the soul in a new body

Karma

The effect of a persons action in this and in previous life’s

Buddhism

Religion based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama

Province

a region with its own government

Isolation (geographic)

separation of members from a population by a physical barrier