12/14 India + China test

Harappans

also known as the Indus Valley Civilization, most mysterious civilization

undeciphered language

why are the Harappans so mysterious?

carefully designed cities;sewer system;grid patterned streets

urban society in the Indus Valley civilization

symbolic animals/nature; “Tree of Life”

Religion in the Indus Valley Civilization

theories on the end of the Harappan era

Gradual fade from power;natural disaster;outside conquerer

Indo-Aryans

the second group to dominate Indo-Gangetic Plain

The Vedic Age

India from 1500-1000 BC. Aryan influences

Sanskrit

language of Indo-Aryans

Raja

title of ruler in Indo-Aryan civilization

duties of raja

run city states;military legal authoruty;council

Caste System

a colorist social structure in the Indo-Aryan civilization

Hinduism

a modern day religion that developed from a combination of Harappan and Indo-Aryan religions

Om(aum)

“that which sustains everything”; the central symbol of Hinduism

Turiya

Enlightenment

The Human conciousness

Wake, Sleep, Dream

Monism

Belief that all existing things are a part of a single energy or substance

Brahma

The Creator in Hinduism; holds a vessel containing water and lotus blossoms

Vishnu

“The Preserver”; maintains existence; holds a conch and Naga(a snake with multiple heads)

Shiva

“The Destroyer”; positive destruction; shown with a drum (beat of destruction) and a snake

Vedas

religious text that forms the foundation of Indian Religion for centuries

Mahabharata

a Hindu parable story; Vishnu becomes human; similar to Romeo and Juliet

Ramayana

a Hindu parable story; Rama and Sita

Untouchables

bottom of the caste system; viewed as a “disease”; called “Children of God” by Ghandi

samsara

the repeating cycle of birth, life, and death

dharma

fulfillment of ones moral duty in life

karma

positive or negative force generated by your actions; decides your fate in next life

Moksha

liberation from samsara; soul reunites with the universal energy

Ahimsa

compassion for all life; includes animals

Yoga

popular modern-day practice originating from Hindu practice to discipline and harmonize body and soul

Siddhartha Gautama

Indian Prince in 500s BC; witnesses suffering of mankind and questions Hinduism

Great Renunciation

Siddhartha Gautama leaving Hinduism and his life due to unanswered philosophical questions

Nirvana

Enlightenment on earth

The Buddha

what Siddhartha Gautama became after being the first to experience Nirvana; “Enlightened one”

Bodhisattvas

believed by some buddhists; those who turn back from nirvana to help society reach salvation

the 4 Noble Truths

Life is suffering; the cause of suffering is desire; the cure for suffering is to remove desire; to remove desire follow the eightfold path

follow the Eightfold path

how to remove desire

similarities of Hinduism and Buddhism

reincarnation process; actions on earth decide progress of soul; human desire must be controlled

Shang Dynasty

first recorded Chinese dynasty

Zhou dynasty

second recorded dynasty; longest ruling Chinese dynasty

Mandate of Heaven

rules to prove the transition of one Chinese dynasty to another

the right to rule is granted by heaven; there is only one heaven, so only one ruler; the right to rule is based on the virtue of ruler; the right to rule is not limited to one dynasty

the principles of the Mandate of Heaven

Animism; ancestor worship; dragons

Shang & Zhou religious evidence

Oracle bones

religious artifacts from the Shang dynasty; don’t have many today because they were consumed

Qin

the dynasty that overthrows the Zhou

Yin and Yang

balance

Yin

dark, night, passive, female

Yang

light, day, hot, active, male

Qi

keeps yin & yang balanced; life force; flows through everything

progression of dynasties; food

practical applications of Yin & Yang

Feng Shui

placement of objects to allow flow of Qi

Buddhism

a religion branching off of Hinduism; founded by Siddartha Gautama; anti-caste

Brahmins

priests; first class on caste

Kshatriyas

warriors and rulers; second class

vaisyas

skilled traders, merchants, minor officials; third class

sudras

unskilled workers and peasants; fourth class

Parians

outcasts/untouchables; last class

aging dynasty

a new dynasty becomes an

virtue

behavior showing high moral standards

neutral

rice is _____

bronze

metal used by the shang

dynastic cycle

the pattern of the governments’ receiving and losing the Mandate is depicted in China’s _____

pictographs

Early Chinese writing

citadel

structure in the middle of Indian cities