AP world history chapter 3 terms

LOWEST LEVEL OF INDIAN SOCIETY; not considered a real part of the caste system; often given degrading jobs; their life was extremely difficult

one of two classical Hindu epics telling of the banishment of Rama from his kingdom and the abduction of his wife by a demon and Rama's restoration to the throne

India's political how-to guide, Mauryan empire

brahmans who were teachers for the princes of the imperial court of the guptas

In Hindu belief, a person's religious and moral duties

philosophical texts sacred to the hindu religion.

A religious symbol associated with meditation, usually created with geometric patterns and shapes

(Hinduism) an ancient Sanskrit text giving rules for sensuous and sensual pleasure and love and marriage in accordance with Hindu law

In Hindu belief, all the actions that affect a person's fate in the next life

a great indian epic poem, reflecting the struggles of the aryans as they moved south into india

religious buildings that originally housed Buddha relics. Stupas developed into familiar Buddhist architecture

The first great indian empire.

dynasty that succeeded the Mauryas;

the name of a language and people group in southern india

belief that the individual soul is reborn in a different form after death

a condition of great peace or happiness

A dynasty that united the indian states after the Mauryan empire.

the most important language of ancient India

Last of the able rulers of the Gupta dynasty; following his reign the empire dissolved under the pressure of nomadic invasions

founder of Buddhism

king, founder of the Mauryan Empire

grandson of Chandragupta Maurya; completed conquests of Indian subcontinent; converted to Buddhism and sponsored spread of new religion throughout his empire

political advisor to Chandragupta Maurya; believed in scientific application of warfare

The highest mountains in the world, which stretch along northern India, separating it from the rest of Asia.

Ancient Sanskrit writings that are the earliest sacred texts of Hinduism.

The social divisions of the Aryan Society that included from top to bottom: 1)priests (Brahmins), 2) rulers or warriors; 3) farmers, craftspeople, traders; 4) workers and servants (Sudras)

(Hinduism) a Hindu caste or distinctive social group of which there are thousands throughout India

chief god of the Rig-Veda

A Hindu god considered the creator of the world.

a system of exercises practiced as part of the Hindu discipline to promote control of the body and mind