Ancient Civilizations and Religious Beliefs: Key Terms and Concepts

Alphabet

A system of writing with relatively few characters that join to form words

Empire

A large group of states or ethnic groups all ruled by a single government (with varying degrees of centralization)

phoencians

A small empire in Lebanon known for their ships building, trading, expensive purple dye, and the creation of the alphabet

Varna

The four major social divisions in India's caste system

Satrapy

A province/state in the Persian empire governed by an official known as a satrap

Vedas

The four original Vedic religion texts that contain the laws, songs, and hymns

Sea Peoples/Philistines

A group of people who left the Danube river basin because of drought. They invaded the Hittites and fought with the Egyptians and Greeks.

Zoroastrianism

The religion of the Persian empire. Belief in a good vs. bad god. Ahura Mazda was the main god.

Monotheism

Belief in one God

upanishads

A group of writings sacred in Hinduism concerning the relations of humans, God, and the universe. Adapted from the vedas by Brahmins

Monotheism

Belief in one God

Upanishads

A group of writings sacred in Hinduism concerning the relations of humans, God, and the universe. That was adapted from the original vedas by Barmins.