Unit 3: south Asia and Africa

Hinduism

A major world religion originating in South Asia, characterized by belief in reincarnation, karma, dharma, and a pantheon of deities, with scared texts like the Vedas and Upanishads.

Dharma

One's due in life, based on age, caste, and stage of life; central to Hindu and Buddhist ethics

Karma

The belief that actions in this life affect one's fate in future lives

Moksha

Liberation from the cycle of rebirth (Samara); the ultimate spiritual goal in Hinduism

Vedas

Ancient scared texts of Hinduism containing hymns, rituals, and philosophical teachings.

Upanishads

Philosophical writing that explores the deeper meaning of vedas, focusing on concepts like soul and ultimate reality.

Caste system

The class structure in Hindu society dividing people into rigid groups based on birth and occupation.

Varnas

The four broad social classes in Hindu society-Brahmins, Kshatriyas, vaishyas, and shudras

Bhakti Movement

A devotional movement in medieval India emphasizing personal with deity often challenging caste distinction and promoting spiritual equality.

Buddhism

A religion founded by siddhartha gautama focused on overcoming suffering through ethical living meditation and wisdom.

Siddhartha Gautama

The founder of Buddhism who attained enlightenment and taught the path to end suffering.

Four noble truths

Core Buddhist teaching:1. Life is suffering, 2. Suffering caused by desire, 3. Ending desire ends suffering, 4. The eightfold path leads to liberation

Eightfold path

A guide to ethical and mental development in Buddhism including right understanding, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration

Nirvana

The state of perfect peace and liberation from the cycle of rebirth; the ultimate goal in Buddhism

Theravada

Oldest form of Buddhism emphasizing individual enlightenment through meditation and discipline enlightenment for all

Mahayana

A branch of Buddhism that emphasizes compassion the role of bodhisattvas, and The possibility of enlightenment for all

Bodhisattva

In mahayana buddhism, a being who seeks enlightenment and helps others achieve liberation

Delhi Sultanate

Hey series of Muslim dynasties that ruled northern India from 1206 to 1526 introducing Islamic governance and cultures while interacting with existing Hindu traditions

vijayanagara empire

A Hindu empire in southern India, that resisted Islamic expansion and became a major center of trade, culture and temple architecture.

Sinhala dynasties

Buddhist kingdoms in Sri Lanka that maintained religious and cultural traditions

Purdah

A social and religious practice among some Muslims and Hindu communities involving the seclusion of women from public observation, often through clothing or physical separation

Monsoon

Seasonal wind patterns in the Indian Ocean that enable trade by allowing predictable sailing schedules

Lateen sails

Triangular sail that allowed ships to sail against the wind, expanding maritime trade routes

Dhow

A traditional Arab sailing vessel with Lateen sails used extensively in the Indian Ocean

Junk

A large Chinese sailing ship used in long distant trade across the south China sea in Indian Ocean

Compass

An instrument that use a magnetic needle to show direction allowing navigation without landmarks

Astrolabe

A tool used by sailors to determine latitude by measuring the angle of the sun and star

Swahili city-states

A group of east African coastal cities that thrived on Indian Ocean trade blending African, Arab and Islamic cultures

Strait of Malacca

A narrow waterway between the Malay, Peninsula and Sumatra; a vital chokepoint for trade between the Indian Ocean and East Asia

Khmer Empire

A powerful southern east Asian empire centered in present Cambodia known for its monumental architecture like angkor wat and it's Hindu- Buddhist syncretism

Srivijaya Empire

A Hindu maritime empire based in Sumatra that controlled trade through the strait of Malacca and promoted Mahayana Buddhism

Majapahit Empire

A powerful Buddhist empire in Java that dominated maritime Southeast Asia

Sultanate of malacca

A Muslim kingdom founded in the early 15th century in the strait of malacca

Sahel

A semi-arid region of Africa, located between the Sahara desert, and the savannas to the south historically a key zone for trade and cultural exchange

Aksum

An ancient kingdom located in present day, Ethiopia and Eritrea known for its trade networks, monumental architecture and early adoption of Christianity

Bantu

A large group of ethnically related people in Africa, who share linguistic roots over their migration that spread agriculture, ironwork, and language across sub saharan Africa

Zimbabwe

A powerful southern African kingdom known for its stone architecture, especially the great Zimbabwe and its role in regional trade

Swahili

A coastal culture and language that developed from the bending of bantu and Arab influence prominent in East African trade cities like kilwa and mombasa

Mali

A West African empire that succeeded Ghana, flourishing from the 13th to 15th century known for its wealth, Islamic, scholarship and cities like Timbuktu

Sundiata

The founder of the Mali empire, celebrated in oral traditions as a heroic figure who united the region and established strong centralized government

Mansa musa

A famous ruler of mali known for his extravagant pilgrimage to Mecca and for promoting Islamic learning and architecture in West Africa

Timbuktu

A major city in the Mali and later Songhai empires re-owned for its Islamic scholarship, trade and cultural achievement

Songhai

A powerful west African empire that rose after

Mali, reaching its peak in the 15th and 16th centuries known for its military strength and administrative sophistication

Hausa kingdom

A collection of city states in northern Nigeria that emerged around the 10th century known for trade craftsmanship and Islamic influence

Animism

A religious belief system in which nature objects, place, and creatures possess spiritual essence common in many indigenous African societies.

Griots

West African storyteller, historians, and musicians who preserve oral traditions and genealogies across generation