Ch. 8 Study Guide
Charlie Shapiro
Section 1: Origins of Hindu India
Summary:
Vocabulary
Vedas - holy rituals written down by priests
Varnas - four main social classes
Brahmans - study and teach vedas, religious ceremonies, ensure welfare of people
Kshatriyas - study vedas, lead government , head of army
Vaisyas - tend herds, care for land, make and sell products
Sudras - serve other varnas
Pariahs - perform tasks considered unclean, lived outside the cities (untouchables, outcastes)
dharma - duties
Mahabharata - epic poem that outlines one must do their duty no matter what, 100,000 authors, multiple authors
Ramayana - 24,000 verses, struggle between good and evil, Rama (good king) and Sita (wife)
Upanishads - religious writings from 800-400 BC
Brahman Nerguna - everything has a soul (gods, humans, animals) that are apart of the universal spirit
reincarnation - rebirth of the soul
ahisma - nonviolence towards all living things, protect humans, animals and plants
moksha - release from the pain of rebirth, complete oneness with Brahman Nerguna
Early India's Social System
Importance of Cattle
Moksha
Section 2: Rise of Buddhism
Summary:
Vocabulary:
Nirvana - freedom from rebirth (a state of extinction)
stupas - large stone mounds over the bones of holy people
Above: Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, known as the Buddha is meditating.
The Buddha's religious philosophy within his Four Noble Truths.
The Eightfold Path
Section 3: Indian Empires
Summary:
Vocabulary:
Magadha - center of India's first empire
Chandragupta Maurya - overthrew the Magadhan king and proclaimed himself ruler
Asoka (Chandragupta's grandson) - Indian civilization blossomed during his reign
Chandragupta I - A.D. 310, built up Gupta Empire
Chandragupta II - ruled from A.D. 375 to A.D. 415 and Gupta Empire reached its height under his rule