AP World History Unit 1: World Religion

Raja

An Indian king or prince who ruled over a region

Pariahs

a person despised or rejected by society
Reincarnation

Maharajas

Great kings or rulers of large territories in ancient India

Jati

The subgroups within the caste system, often linked to occupation

Karma

The belief that a person’s actions determine their fate in future lives

Dharma

A person’s moral and religious duties according to their position in life

Guru

A spiritual teacher or guide in Hinduism

Atman

The individual soul or essence believed to be part of the universal spirit

Varna

One of the four main social classes in Hindu society

Sati

An ancient Hindu practice where a widow was burned on her husband’s funeral pyre

Sanskrit

The ancient sacred language of India

Pant

Refers to a pantheon, or a collection of gods

Parascript

(Possibly “Pali Script”) Ancient writing system used in early Indian texts

Brahmanism

Early form of Hinduism focused on rituals and the power of priests

Brahman

The universal spirit or ultimate reality in Hinduism

Upanishads

Sacred Hindu texts that explore the meaning of life and the nature of the divine

Rig Veda

The oldest of the Vedas, containing hymns dedicated to the gods

Baha Rig Veda

A section of the Rig Veda that praises various deities

Gita

Refers to the Bhagavad Gita, a sacred Hindu text teaching duty and devotion

Mahabharata

One of India’s great epics, telling stories of heroes and gods

Shiva

A major Hindu god known as the destroyer and transformer

Vishnu

A major Hindu god known as the preserver and protector

Ganesha

Hindu god of wisdom and remover of obstacles

Kshatriyas

The warrior class in the Hindu caste system

Vaishyas

The merchant and landowning class in the Hindu caste system

Sudras

The laborer and servant class in the Hindu caste system

Aryans

Indo-European people who migrated into India and influenced early Hindu culture

Dalits

The lowest group in the Indian social hierarchy, outside the caste system

Untouchables

Another term for Dalits, traditionally considered outside the caste system

Caste

A rigid social hierarchy dividing people by occupation and birth

Moksha

Liberation from the cycle of rebirth and union with Brahman

Priests

Religious leaders who conduct rituals and guide worshippers

Polytheistic

Believing in many gods

Monotheistic

Believing in one god

Morality

Principles concerning right and wrong behavior

Indus River Valley

Early civilization in South Asia along the Indus River

Wheel of Life

Symbol of the endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth

Tripitaka

The sacred scriptures of Buddhism, meaning “Three Baskets”

The Buddha

The Enlightened One, title given to Siddhartha Gautama

Siddhartha Gautama

Founder of Buddhism who achieved enlightenment

Buddhist Temple

A place of worship and meditation for Buddhists

Enlightenment

A state of perfect wisdom and understanding of truth in Buddhism

Nirvana

The ultimate goal in Buddhism, release from suffering and rebirth

Four Noble Truths

The central teachings of Buddhism about suffering and its end

The Eightfold Path

The Buddhist path to enlightenment through right conduct, thought, and wisdom

Zoroaster

Founder of Zoroastrianism, an ancient Persian religion

Zoroastrians

Followers of Zoroaster who believe in one god, Ahura Mazda

Ahura Mazda

The supreme god in Zoroastrianism, representing truth and light

Animism

The belief that natural objects and forces have spirits

Akhenaton

Egyptian pharaoh who introduced worship of the sun god Aton

Pharaoh

The ruler of ancient Egypt, considered both king and god

Aton

The sun god worshipped during the reign of Akhenaton

Prophet

A messenger believed to speak for God or the divine

Hebrew

The ancient Semitic language of the Jewish people

Shintoism

Traditional Japanese religion focusing on nature spirits called Kami

Kami

Spirits or deities in Shintoism that inhabit natural objects and forces

Bible

The holy book of Christianity, divided into the Old and New Testaments

Sedition

Conduct or speech inciting rebellion against authority

New Testament

The second part of the Christian Bible focusing on the life and teachings of Jesus

Old Testament

The first part of the Christian Bible, shared with Judaism

Disciples

The followers of Jesus during his ministry

Judea

The Roman province where Jesus lived and preached

God

The supreme being and creator in monotheistic religions

Star of David

Symbol of Judaism representing the connection between God and humanity

Israel

The Jewish homeland established in ancient and modern times

Torah

The central reference of Judaism, containing the first five books of the Hebrew Bible

Talmud

A collection of Jewish teachings, laws, and commentary

Yahweh

The Hebrew name for God in Judaism

Abraham

The founding patriarch of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

Synagogue

A Jewish house of worship and community gathering

Jerusalem

A holy city for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

Shul

Another term for a Jewish synagogue

Ten Commandments

The laws given to Moses by God, central to Jewish and Christian ethics

Covenants

Sacred agreements between God and his people

Sabbath

The Jewish day of rest and worship, observed from Friday evening to Saturday evening

Rabbi

A Jewish teacher or religious leader

Cantor

A person who leads prayer and chanting in Jewish services

Yarmulke

A skullcap worn by Jewish men during prayer and worship

Kosher

Food prepared according to Jewish dietary laws

Tallit

A prayer shawl worn during Jewish services

Eternal Light

A continuously burning lamp in synagogues symbolizing God’s eternal presence

Jewish

Relating to Judaism or its followers

Moses

The prophet who led the Israelites out of Egypt and received the Ten Commandments

Genesis

The first book of the Bible, describing creation and early history

Hanukkah

Jewish festival celebrating the rededication of the Second Temple

Jesus

The central figure of Christianity, believed to be the Son of God

Galilee

Region in northern Israel where Jesus preached

Baptism

Christian ritual signifying purification and admission to the faith

God the Father

The first person of the Christian Trinity

God the Son

Refers to Jesus Christ in the Christian Trinity

The Holy Spirit

The third person of the Trinity, representing God’s presence on Earth

Crucifixion

The execution of Jesus by the Romans on a cross

Roman Empire

Ancient empire that ruled much of Europe and the Mediterranean

Augustus Caesar

The first emperor of Rome who established the Pax Romana

Pax Romana

A long period of peace and stability in the Roman Empire

Cross

The symbol of Christianity representing the crucifixion of Jesus

Church

A Christian place of worship

Persecute

To harass or punish people for their beliefs

Hinduism

One of the world’s oldest religions, based on belief in karma, dharma, and reincarnation

Buddhism

A religion founded by Siddhartha Gautama focusing on the path to enlightenment