which kingdom had become more powerful than any other state and where was it located?
Magadha, the Ganges plain
who is the key figure of jainsim
vardhamana mahavira
Who is Vardhamana Mahavira?
son of the cheif, member of the warrior class
what is Jainism based on
the doctrines of karma and rebirth
why did jainists trade
becuase farming would kill the insects in the soil which they couldn't do
lasting legacies of jainsim (2)
fasting and nonviolence
Who was Buddha?
Siddhartha Gautama
what does buddha mean
enlightened one
who was Siddhartha Gautama
son of a chief and part of the warrior class
What was the Enlightenment?
perfect insight into the process of the universe
what did buddha urge
the middle way between asceticism and wordly life
how did buddha attract followers
by preaching in the local language and not sanskrit
what are the 4 noble truths
pain and suffering, frustration and anxiety are ugly but inescapable parts of human life 2) suffering and anxiety are caused bu human desires and attachments 3) people can understand these weaknesses and triumph over them 4) this triumph is made possible by following simple code of conduct, the eightfold path
how did Buddhism differ from Brahmanism
it ignored the caste system
who could follow the eightfold path
everyone
what does the eightfold path do
bring you to your own enlightenment
what are the scriptures of the buddha called
sutras
mahayana
a more inclusive form of buddhism
what does mahayana mean
great vehicle
who was placed at the head of the pantheon
buddha
Why did Buddhism decline in India?
it was less popular than Hinduism and Islam
what were rejections of brahmanic relgion
bhuddism and jainism
what specifically did bhuddism and jainism reject from brahmanaic religion
the caste system
What did Brahmanism develop into
Hinduism
What is the goal of Hinduism?
to reach union with brahman
what is the dharma for
people to observe it in their quest to reach union with brahman
in hinduism can people worship personal gods
yes
hinduisms embrace of ___ ____ ___ __ ___ enabled it to incorporate new sects doctrines beleifs and deities
a large pantheon of gods
What is the Bhagavad Gita?
Hinduism's most popular sacred text
can people have different dharmas
yes
who unified all of north india
chandragupta
what did chandragupta found
the mauryan empire
what fostered contact between india and the near east
Persian control
what was the relationship between the greeks and the indians
the greeks were impressed by the indians, Alexander overtook some of the states but he was mainly peaceful with the indians and he even debated with them
who was the sole master of north india in 322 bce
chandragupta
what influenced chandragupta in his rule
persian lessons
What did Chandragupta do?
he divided india into provinces and assigned governors to them
what religion was chandragupta
jain ascetic
Who was Chandragupta's grandson
Ashoka
what religion was ashoka
Buddhist
what did ashoka do about religion
he spread bhuddism by making laws and using the machinery of his empire
Why did the Mauryan Empire decline
ashokas died
veda
to see, to know or meaning wisdom/knowledge
Rig Veda
The earliest collection of Indian hymns, ritual texts, and philosophical treatises, it is the central source of information on early Aryans.
Samsara
The transmigration of souls by a continual process of rebirth
Karma
The tally of good and bad deeds that determines the status of an individual's next life.
two big parts of ancient indian cosmology
samsara and karma
Pantheon
all the gods of a people or religion
Jainism
Indian religion whose followers consider all life sacred and avoid destroying other life
Four Noble Truths
the most basic Buddhist teaching 1. The truth of Suffering
Eightfold Path
The eight
Buddhism ignored the caste system, so who could follow the Eightfold Path?
everyone
Mahayana
The "Great Vehicle," everybody gets on board. Mahayana is completely inclusive. the raft is crossing over the turbulent river of samsara. The buddha is the pilot of the raft. The other shore is nirvana
What is the meaning of Mahavira?
Great Conqueror/Great Hero
What is significant about the title of Mahavira?
The title is significant because he conquered samsara.
Who was the greatest teacher of Janism
Varhamana, Kshatriyan. Later the Mahavira
What is the Jain teaching regarding living souls?
All living beings, plants, and animals have living souls and are scared. And non
Ahimsa
nonviolence
What was Siddhartha Gautama called?
Shakyamuni Buddha, the Sage of the Shaya Tribe
What does Buddha mean?
enlightened one or awakened one
What is the prophecy of the Buddha at birth?
He would either rule the world or redeem the world.
When Siddhartha left his life of luxury, what did he become?
An ascetic
What was Siddhartha Gautama looking for when he set out on his spiritual quest?
He was seeking freedom from suffering for all, freedom from the wheel of Samsara.
What did Siddhartha discover?
The middle way, a way to live your life, the way between extremes.
What is the metaphor Siddhartha used to explain the middle way to freedom
He uses a stringed musical instrument. As you tune the instrument, if the string are too loose (life of luxury) it will not play, if the strings are too tight the will break and not play (asceticism)
What can Buddhism be compared too?
A great tree with deep roots and wide branches
Siddhartha's Awakening
He sat for forty days under the Bo tree in Bodh Gaya, a small city in north India and a major pilgrimage site.
What is the buddhas first teaching?
the 4 noble truths
What is the meaning of Dharma in Buddhism?
Truth;the teachings of the Buddha
What is Dharma in Hinduism?
moral duty and law
Nirvana
the other shore, the end of suffering is referred to as nirvana, meaning to extinguish a flame, to chill.
Bodhisattva
A great being who is enlightned or very close o it who chooses to stay in the world to help others on the path to awakening, to freedom from suffering
What were direct challenges to the old Brahminic religion?
Buddhism and Janism
What did both Buddhism and Jainism reject?
sacrificing Animals and the caste system
What is the bedrock of Hinduism?
The belief that the Vedas are sacred revelations.
What is the goal of Hinduism?
Hindiuis is a guide to life, the goal of which is to reach union with Braham, the ultimate unchaining realty.
What do Hindus refer to their religion as?
the eternal way
What is an avatar?
an incarnation or manifestation of the one God.
What is the central ethical Hindu text
Bhagavad Gita
What is the capital of the Mauryan Empire
Pataliputra, one of the greatest citie sof the anicent world
Megasthenes
Greek ambassador who wrote detailed descriptions of fabulous cosmopolitan metropolis.
edict
an official order or proclamation
who unified all of north india
chandragupta
What happened during the kushan period (lasted to 250 ce)?
Greek culture impacted Indian art. Buddhist shrines were adorned. And coin cast images of kings became popular.
What was codified in the period of 185 BCE
300 C.E?
What metaphor is used to explain the first teachings of the Buddha?
dr. buddha
who is the key figure of jainsim
vardhamana mahavira
what was the relationship between the greeks and the indians
the greeks were impressed by the indians, Alexander overtook some of the states but he was mainly peaceful with the indians and he even debated with them
What did Chandragupta do?
he divided india into provinces and assigned governors to them
Who was Chandragupta's grandson?
ashoka, a buddhist
Why did the Mauryan Empire decline?
Asoka died
Brahmanism
focused not on a creator who made the univer out of nothing rather on endlessly reapting cycles. Ex: samsara and karma
Moksha
release from samsara
Brahman
The unchanging ultimate reality, according to the Upanishads.
Atman
the individual soul, like a spark in brahman (the fire)
mystic
one who seeks to understand spirtual truths and one's relationship with the divine or ultimate reality
Asceticism
severe self
What is the worlds longest epic poem?
Mahabharata
Bhagavad Gita
is a guide on how to live in the world and yet honor the moral law and thus achieve release from the wheel of samsara. also known as "Song of the Lord'
When did Jainism start?
the 7th century BCE