SUBCONTINENT• A smaller part of a

continent• India

MONSOONS• Seasonal rains• Wet summers, dry winters

ASIA• The continent India is found• East of Europe

HIMALAYAS• Tallest mountains in world• Separate India from the rest

of Asia

MOHENJO DARO• Great Harappan city• Had indoor plumbing and

sewers

INDUS RIVER• Site of first great Indian

civilization• Flows through modern day

Pakistan

BRAHMINS• Priests• Hindu religious leaders

KSHATRIYAS• Rulers and warriors• The Buddha belonged to

this caste

VAISYAS• Farmers and traders• Not really “mean”

SUDRAS• Peasants• Largest caste in India

CASTE SYSTEM• India’s social structure• Very strict “system”

UNTOUCHABLES• Outcasts of society• Had few legal rights

HINDUISM• Largest religion in India

today• Word means “the river”

HINDU GODS• The creator• The destroyer• The preserver

REINCARNATION• Process of birth and rebirth• Sacred cow

KARMA• Good or bad actions• What comes around, goes

around

BUDDHISM• Founded by Prince

Siddartha• Teachings based on 4 Noble

Truths

FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS• Buddhism’s basic beliefs• Follow the “middle ground”

THE EIGHTFOLD PATH• The middle path• The Buddha believed

people should live according to this

MISSIONARIES• People that spread their

religious beliefs• 500 of Buddha’s followers

SANSKRIT• Language of ancient India• Spoken, not written at first

METALLURGY• Science of working with

metals• People of ancient India

were expert metal workers

INOCULATION• Injecting a small dose to

build up immunity• Commonly called “shots”

HINDU-ARABIC NUMERALS• Numbers we use today• 0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9

ASTRONOMY• Study of stars• Use telescopes

NIRVANA• State of perfect peace• Buddhists want to achieve