history 9 honors test 3 study guide

monsoons

seasonal winds that regularly blow from a certain direction for part of the year

Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa

indus cities have been considered possible twin capitals of the civilization

aryans

nomads that belonged to one of many groups of speakers of Indo-European languages who migrated across Europe and Asia

vedas

collections of hymns, chants, and rituals instructions and other religious teachings

Rajah

most skilled war leaders who were elected by an assembly of warriors

caste system

system of ranking with the Aryans:
brahmins(priests), kshatriyas(warriors), Vaisyas (hereders, farmers, artisans), and sudras(farmworkers, laborers, servants)

indra

god of war, chief aryan diety, weapon is a thunderbolt

sanskrit

written language that priests had used to write sacred texts, used in many kingdoms

hinduism

a religion with countless gods and goddesses
brahman: creator
vishnu: preserver
shiva: destroyer

buddhism

religion based on the teachings of the Buddha.

four truths

1. all life is full of suffering, pain, and sorrow
2. the cause of all suffering is non-virtue
3. the only cure of suffering is to overcome non-virtue
4. the way to overcome non-virtue is to follow the eightfold path

eightfold path

right views, right aspirations, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right contemplation

Mauryan empire

first to write indian subcontinent, created by chandragupta
boasted schools and a library, splendid palaces and temples

chandragupta

a young adventurer who forged the first Indian empire, gained power in Ganges valley and was cruel but effective

asoka

most honored Maurya emperor; Chandragupta's grandson, peaceful ruler who disliked violence

Gupta Empire

Golden Age of India; ruled through central government but allowed village power; restored Hinduism
(promoted peace and prosperity)

joint family

Parents, children, and their offspring shared a common dwelling

shang dynasty

-first dynasty in northern china
-gov't: loyal princes and nobles; head of families
very expansive
- social classes: top, next, peasants(majority)

zhou dynasty

replaced shang dynasty, " divine right to rule", feudalism

feudalism

a system of government in which local lords governed their own lands but owed military service and other forms of support to the ruler

dynastic cycle

rise and fall of dynasties, economic growth, agriculture, and irrigation systems

shang di

supreme god; prayed to many gods and nature spirits; polythestic

confucius

brillant scholar who studied ancient texts and developed a philosophy

5 key relationships w confucius

1: ruler to subject
2: parent to child
3: elder to younger
4: husband to wife
5: friend to friend(=)

laozi

founded daoism, philosopher during the same time of confucius