South Asia

Hinduism

Religion based on Vedas and caste system.

Sikhism

Religious community affected by India's partition.

Jinnah

Muslim leader advocating for partition of India.

Sacred Hymns

Religious songs or chants in Hinduism.

Caste System

Social hierarchy determining roles and duties.

Middle Way

Balanced lifestyle avoiding extremes of greed and laziness.

British Colony

India under control of England, losing resources.

Partition

Division of India into Muslim and Hindu states.

Irrigation Channels

Constructed to transport water for crops.

Indo-Aryans

Group that settled in the Indus Valley around 1600 BCE.

Four Noble Truths

Core principles of Buddhism addressing suffering.

Meditation

Practice for achieving enlightenment in Buddhism.

Indus River

Provided water for farming and trade.

Nehru

Leader opposing partition, promoting unity in India.

Buddhism

Religion based on the Eightfold Path, Four Noble Truths, and enlightenment.

Karma

The effect of a person’s actions in this and previous lives.

Dharma

A person’s duty or what is right for him or her.

Moksha

Liberation from reincarnation.

Missionaries

People who seek to spread their religion.

Dalit

The fifth caste group that had jobs that no one wanted.

Guild

Groups of merchants or craftsmen working in the same line of business.

Brahman

A supreme cosmic consciousness, spiritual force, or God.

Reincarnation

The rebirth of a soul in a new body.

Gurus

Thinkers and teachers.

Citizenship

Membership in a state or community that gives civil and political rights.

Ascetic

A person who tries to achieve spiritual purity through self-denial.

Nirvana

A state of blissful peace without desire or suffering.

Cosmic

Relating to the whole universe.

Enlightenment

A state of perfect wisdom, free of suffering.

Righteous

According to moral law.

Caste

A fixed social class into which a person is born.

Monasteries

Religious communities.

Vedas

A collection of hundreds of sacred hymns used to express beliefs by the Aryans.

Bodhisattvas

Beings who have gained enlightenment and try to help others.

Tolerance

A willingness to respect different beliefs and customs.

Illusion

Something unreal or misleading.

Ancestor

Something that provides information about something unknown.

Meditate

To calm or clear the mind, often by focusing on a single subject.

Ahimsa

The belief that one should not hurt any living thing.

Evidence

Something that provides information about something unknown.

Consequence

Result.