Ancient Civilizations: India, Persia, and Greece Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering the key religious, philosophical, political, and historical concepts of Ancient India, Persia, and Greece.

Varna vs. Jati

Varna refers to the 4 main social classes created by gods (priests, warriors, merchants, workers), while Jati refers to thousands of specific job groups passed down by family; together, they formed India's caste system.

Dharma & Karma

Dharma is your duty based on your caste, while Karma refers to good or bad actions that dictate your next life (Samsara/reincarnation).

Samsara, Atman, & Moksha

Samsara is the cycle of death and rebirth, Atman is the individual soul, and Moksha is the ultimate spiritual freedom and escape from rebirth in Hinduism.

Brahman & Purusha

Brahman is the universal spiritual force in Hinduism, and Purusha is the cosmic giant whose body parts were divided to create the 4 Varnas.

Buddhism's Core Teachings

The belief that life has suffering caused by desire, and that desire can be ended by following the Eightfold Path to reach Nirvana (peace and liberation).

Anatta & Caste Rejection

Anatta is the idea that there is no permanent soul; Buddha taught that worth comes from deeds, not birth, thereby rejecting priestly caste power.

Theravada vs. Mahayana

Theravada is the traditional path focused on monks and original Buddha teachings, whereas Mahayana is a widespread path treating Buddha as a savior who helps everyone reach Nirvana.

Sigalovada Sutta & Taittiriya Upanishad

Practical rulebooks for everyday householders showing reciprocal duties (how parents/children, masters/workers, and friends should treat each other).

Bhagavad Gita & Karma Yoga

A famous Hindu text in which Krishna teaches Karma Yoga, meaning doing your duty selflessly without worrying about the reward.

Emperor Ashoka & Mauryan Empire

An Indian emperor who converted to Buddhism after the bloody Kalinga War and unified India through moral rock edicts promoting peace and religious tolerance.

Geography of Greece vs. India vs. Persia

Greece's rocky mountains formed isolated city-states (poleis); Persia's vast land enabled an overland empire; India's river valleys aided farming and regional states.

Cleisthenes & Athenian Democracy

Cleisthenes reorganized Athens into neighborhood units (demes) instead of rich family lines, allowing citizens to vote directly on laws in the Assembly (Ecclesia).

Athenian Citizenship & Exclusions

A political structure where only free, adult native males held political rights, while women, resident foreigners (metics), and enslaved people were excluded.

Sparta's Oligarchy & Helots

A militarized oligarchy ruled by 2 kings and a noble council that maintained strict military control over an enslaved farming class called helots.

Achaemenid Persian Empire

An empire that governed a giant territory using provincial leaders (satraps), fast trade/messaging on the Royal Road, and religious tolerance (declared on the Cyrus Cylinder).

Sophists vs. Socrates

Sophists were paid teachers who argued to win, whereas Socrates used questioning (dialectic) to seek truth and question authority.

Plato's Philosopher-King

A philosophical framework combining the Theory of Forms (the physical world is just a shadow of perfect ideas) and the belief that wise thinkers, not regular citizens, should rule.

Aristotle & The Golden Mean

A philosophical focus on practical observation and moderation, defined by finding the middle ground between two extremes.

Greco-Persian vs. Peloponnesian Wars

The Greco-Persian Wars saw Greek city-states unite to defeat Persia, whereas the Peloponnesian War was a civil war between Athens and Sparta that left Greece weak and easy to conquer.

Alexander the Great

A king who conquered Greece, Egypt, and Persia, and reached India, utilizing Persian roads and gold to build a massive global empire.

Hellenistic Era Philosophies

Coping philosophies during empire times, including Stoicism (stay calm & do duty), Epicureanism (seek simple peace), and Skepticism (doubt absolute claims).

Greco-Buddhist Art

Statues depicting Buddhist figures dressed in Greek-style robes, serving as a clear example of cultural blending caused by Alexander's conquest.