History vocab for test 11/24/25

Brahman

In the belief system established in Aryan India, a single spiritual power that resides in all things.

Shiva

One of the big 3 Hindu gods.

Rajah

In ancient India, the elected warrior chief of an Aryan tribe.

Patriarchal

Relating to a society in which men hold the greatest legal and moral authority.

Monsoon

Seasonal wind that regularly blows from a certain direction for part of the year.

Hanfeizi

Chinese philosopher who taught that the nature of man is evil (Founder of legalism).

Mystic

Person who devotes his or her life to seeking direct communication with the divine.

Shi Huangdi

The emperor who united China and ruled with a legalistic approach and built the Great Wall.

Dynastic Cycle

Rise and fall of a dynasty.

Brahma

Hindu god, the Creator.

Loess

Fine windblown yellow soil.

Reincarnation

Rebirth of a soul into another bodily form.

Caste

In traditional Indian society, an unchangeable social group into which a person is born.

Monopoly

Complete control of a product or business.

Clan

Group of families with a common ancestor.

Filial Piety

Respect for parents.

Calligraphy

The art of producing beautiful handwriting.

Confucius

Founder of Confucianism, 5 key relationships shaped Chinese society for 2500 years.

Subcontinent

Large landmass that juts out from a continent.

Siddhartha Gautama

Founder of Buddhism.

Feudalism

A system of government in which local lords governed their own land but owed military support and other kinds of support back to the ruler.

Asoka

Maurya emperor who converted to Buddhism.

Ideograph

Signs or pictures that represent a thought or idea.

Chandragupta

Ruler who established the 1st great Indian empire (Maurya).