Studied by 30 people
Looks like no one added any tags here yet for you.
4 noble truths
All life is full of suffering, pain, and sorrow
The cause of suffering is desire for things such as riches, power and long life
caused by greed and selfishness
stuck in reincarnation cycle = suffering
The only cure for suffering is to overcome desire and break cycle
the way to overcome ones desire is to follow the 8 fold path = nirvana
8 fold path
Right beliefs or view
right alms or intentions
right speech
right conduct or action
right work or livelihood
right effort
right thinking or mindfulness
right concentration
The only cure for suffering is to follow the eightfold path
Middle path: a middle road between a life devoted to pleasure and a life of harsh self denial
the ultimate goal is nirvana, union with the universe and release from the cycle of rebirth (moksha)
Ahimsa
nonviolence
Arthashastra
this was a book of laws used to govern the Mauryan Empire
it was written by Kautilya, a priestly caste advisor to Chandragupta Maurya
Created a system of taxation where farmers would have to give up half their crops to the government
outlined laws to govern society
inheritance, marriage, slavers, murder, etc.
outlined the role of the King in society and allowed for spying on citizens
created a Bureaucracy
the people in a government system who help get everything done
“do the stuff”
ex: the person who writes the speech for the president
can be in ANY FORM OF GOVERNMENT
Atman
all living things have a spirit or soul
in animals and humans
Caste System
The growth of the social system was the concept of superiority of Aryan people over their indigenous subjects
An issue of color (race), was only the physical sign of a division based on economic functions
Class or varna determined one’s occupation and status in society
Dalits (untouchables
Sudra
Vaisyas
Kshatriyas
Brahmins
Dalits (untouchables)
street sweeper, clean up human/ animal waste, deal with dead bodies (out castes), NOT PART OF THE CASTE SYSTEM
Sudra
Farm workers, unskilled workers, servants #4
Vaisyas
Merchants, craftsman, landowners, skilled workers #3
Kshatriyas
Kings/ruler, warriors #2
Brahmins
priests #1
Dharma
the religious and moral duties of an individual
criteria for making your daily choices
contentment, forgiveness, self-restraint, understanding right from wrong
depends on your family, livelihood, and other factors
Importance of Geography
Subcontinent: a large landmass that forms a distinct part of a continent
Fertile land
Good for farming
Mountainous
Hindi Kush, Himalayan Mountain ranges
For protection
desert to the east
Indo-Gangetic plain
Indus and Ganges rivers
Environmental Changes
Monsoons: a wind that shifts in direction at certain times of each year
could cause famine or floods
unpredictable
Fertile soil
rivers change course
Flooding
Jati
Living divisions
people did not belong to a class as individuals, but as a part of a larger kin group called
System of extended families living in a specific area and carrying out a specific function in society
composed of thousands of individual nuclear family (mom, dad, children) families, governed by its own council of elders
about 3000 jati
membership in council was usually hereditary
sometimes jati would have to move locations or adopt a new occupation
Karma
actions in this life that affect the next life
refers to the law of cause and effect i.e. actions and their consequences
decides where you come back and what you come back as
Middle way
a middle road between a life devoted to pleasure and a life of harsh self denial
Moksha (hinduism)
Liberation - from samsara: the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth
Salvation - of the soul which is rescued from the material world and delivered into the spiritual
The Goal - of Hindus who eventually hope to achieve moksha. Though many accept this might not happen for their next rebirth they aim to produce positive karma in the hope of a good rebirth that might be a little closer to moksha
Nirvana - Becoming one with Brahman. This is a state of enlightenment
Moksha (Buddhism)
Free from the cycle of rebirth
the ultimate goal is nirvana, union with the universe and release from the cycle of rebirth
Monsoon
a wind that shifts in direction at certain times of each year
could cause famine or floods
unpredictable
Nirvana (Hinduism)
Becoming one with Brahman. This is a state of enlightenment
Nirvana (Buddhism)
achieved when human beings abandon all worldly cares and possessions; with this knowledge come bodhi (wisdom)
the ultimate goal, union with the universe and release from the cycle of rebirth (moksha)
Samsara
the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth
Reincarnation (Hinduism)
‘Re’ means ‘again’
‘in’ means ‘in’ (!)
‘carn’ means ‘flesh’
So the whole word means ‘again in flesh’.
Rebirth might sound like a good thing but actually, Hindus believe that going around and around in the cycle of Samsara is keeping our souls (atman) trapped in the material world
Brahmins are closest to ultimate release from wheel of life, followed in descending order y the other classes in human society and animal kingdom
Reincarnation (Buddhism)
Prefer the term rebirth
Nirvana achieved when human beings abandon all worldly cares and possessions
with this knowledge come bodhi (wisdom)
Ultimate goal was release from cycle
Birth, life, death, rebirth (cycle continued until Moksha was reached and then nirvana)
Sanskrit
language used in hinduism; rejected by buddhism
Stupas
where Buddha's relics
Subcontinent
a large landmass that forms a distinct part of a continent
Varnas
skin color; affected your rank in caste system
Vedas
Hindu Sacred texts
oldest texts
Aryans
Asoka
grandson of Chandragupta Maurya
Assumed throne of Mauyaran 269 BC
brought the empire to its greatest heights
followed his grandfathers footsteps: wanted to expand his empire through military conquest
War with Kalinga
he won the war but at great cost
100,000 soldiers killed
over 100,000 civilians killed
Bodhisattvas
Part of the Mahayana of Buddhism
postponed nirvana to help
Dalai Lama
Brahmin
priest
closest to ultimate release from wheel of life, followed in descending order of the other classes in human society and animal kingdom
Buddha/Siddhartha Gautama
born around 563 BC, in northern India
Was born a prince and lived in a kingdom all of his life, because his gather believed the world was so corrupt
Lived his life in luxury, but became unhappy with never being outside
He married his cousin and has a child, but one day, he left the confines of the palace to wander outside when he was about 29
Chandra Gupta II
height of the Gupta Empire
defeated the Shakas
Gave them access to the coast
helped with trade on Mediterranean
negotiated peaceful expansion through marriage alliances
achievements in art, religion, and science
After his death India was divided into separate kingdoms
invaded by Hunas (related to the Huns)
Dalai Lama
a title for the leader of the head of the Mahayana of Buddhists
Harappa
Northern India (present day pakistan)
3200 BC; one of the first civilizations in india
people called “Dravidians”
Population around 3200 BC
People from north of Kush Mtns.
Cities: Kalibangan, Mohjeno-Daro, Harappa
Government
Theocracy: system of government run by religious leaders
Religion was important but no formal group
Early images of Shiva
The Ten Indus Scripts, a collection of written texts on clay and stone tablets, remain indecipherable to archeologists
Some seals show mythological creatures
End of Civilization
Shift in tectonic plates
Earthquakes
Flooding
Overuse of Agriculture
People forced to leave the city to survive
Harappan Civilization Advancements
City planning
Grid system
Walls and levees
Citadel
Bricks
Plumbing/sewers
Written language
Can’t be deciphered
Human made Islands
Clay/wooden toys
Trading system
Gold/silver,
Stones
Colored cloth
Brahman
Supreme Spirit that is everywhere
Debates of Polytheism vs Monotheism
Brahma
creator
Shiva
destroyer
Vishnu
preserver or renewer
Hittites
Located: Anatolia/ Asia minor
controlled Babylon
fought with Egypt over Syria
Language: Akkadian
blended culture with Mesopotamians
Advancements
chariots
one to advance chariots
Wheels and an animal pulling
iron weapons
brought iron into chariots
learned to smelt iron
Ended due to outside invasions
Indo Europeans
Nomadic animal herders
tamed horses
chariots
steppes: dry grasslands
Original language
Migration: movement of people from one region to another
Indo-Aryans
crossed into India 2000 BC
Vedas: prayers, hymns, spells, and rituals
used as a foundation of Hinduism
Caste System
Varnas: skin color
Kingdoms
Magadha
Jainism
Founder: Mahariva
Everything in the universe has a soul
Nonviolence
sweep bugs
wear masks to avoid swallowing bugs
Religious tolerance
Few efforts to convert followers
only 5 million in all of India
Work in trade and commerce
Wealthiest community
Origins of Hinduism and Buddhism
No origins of Hinduism
Buddhism: Siddhartha
wandered through the forest searching for enlightenment
fasted, fought with other religious seekers, but methods did not work
meditated for 49 days under a fig tree
achieved an understanding of the cause of suffering therefore given the name Buddha (enlightened one)
Asoka’s military conquests
War with Kalinga
he won the war but at great cost
100,000 soldiers killed
over 100,000 civilians killed
Asoka’s Turn to Buddhism
Asoka is deeply disturbed by all the violence
he feels responsible for all the lives that were lost during the battle
He feels remorseful and turns to Buddhism
Nonviolence= Ahimsa
practiced religious tolerance
Asoka’s edicts
the king renounces victory by wars of conquest
no royal hunts
officials will attend to the welfare of the aged the poor and prisoners
wrongdoers should be forgiven as much as possible
Advancements
public works
hospitals
rest houses
roads
Compare and contrast Buddhism and Hinduism in multiple areas
Similarities
Reincarnation/ rebirth
Afterlife
karma, dharma
Nirvana
Meditation
India
Differences
Buddhism had an origin story and Hinduism didn’t
religious structure
reliance on ritual sacrifice (hinduism)
emphasis on philosophical speculation
Use of Vedas / Holy book (Hinduism)
Hinduism: Sanskrit, Buddhism: Pali
Use of caste system (Hinduism)
Achievements of the Hittites, Aryans, Maurya, and Gupta
Writing
Kalidasa
court poet for Chandra Gupta II
Madurai
Site of writing academies
Tamil poetry
Traveling acting troupes
Bollywood
Science
Calendar based on the sun
7 day week broken into hours
Earth was round
medical guides
plastic surgery
Math
Decimal system
zero and modern numerals
Pi
Aryabhata
Trade
spices, diamonds, sapphires, gold, pearls, and woods
silk roods
sea trade
between India and Rome
Banking system
lend money to merchants
interest on loans
Spread of the Buddhism
mainly craftspeople and laborers because of rejection of caste system
monks, nuns and Missionaries set up permanent monasteries
Note 
Flashcard (20)