Indian Societies
Brahmins are the highest varna in this hierarchy governing ancient Indian society.
What is the caste system?
Building upon Vedic devotional practice, this category of dharmic religious practice affirms Brahminic spiritual authority and the veneration of myriad deities.
What is Hinduism?
What is the Shang dynasty?
This classical Chinese political philosophy is extremely pragmatic, encouraging manipulation to obtain one's desires and authoritarian enforcement of laws uniform to every subject.
What is Legalism?
The music video for Psy's song "Daddy" features the Chinese word xiao as a picture on the wall of the family's home: this Confucian virtue is literally on display.
What is filial piety?
This emperor unified northern India as Alexander approached from the west in the late fourth century BC. His grandson would go on to be "Great" as well.
Who is Chandragupta Maurya?
In Vedic and Hindu belief, this is true reality from which everything springs and to which all will eventually return. Not to be confused with those of the priestly class...
What is Brahman?
The Zhou state made extensive use of this metal by 500 BC.
What is iron?
With its name derived from a Chinese word meaning 'the Way,' this classical school of thought encourages inaction, abstaining from thoroughly rational activities, appreciation of nature, and acceptance of death.
What is Daoism?
The first European edition of the collected Confucian classics, published in Paris in 1687, features translations into this language.
What is Latin?
Also known as the Indus Valley Civilization, this earliest Indian society boasted infrastructural prowess, durable fortifications, and consistently abundant agricultural yields on account of the region's lengthy growing season.
Who are the Harappans?
Who is Mahavira?
The Shang made many things out of this material, including axe heads, chariot fittings, and spear tips.
What is bronze?
Confucius' name in Chinese (three correct responses possible)
What is Kong Qiu (given name), Kong Fuzi (Master Kong), or Kongzi (Master Kong, abbreviated)?
A coin minted by Antialkidas, basileus of the Indo-Greek kingdom, features a portrait in profile on one side and on the other an image of Zeus sitting on a throne holding Nike (Victory) next to this animal—an example of Indo-Greek syncretism.
What is an elephant?
The term for Aryan monarchs—initially tribal chieftains elected by warrior-nobles, later kings appointed exclusively by priests. Invested with political and spiritual authority, they could claim divine sponsorship of their rule.
What is 'raja'?
Unlike Greco-Buddhist art, early Buddhist art is characterized by this type of depiction, forgoing human representation of the Buddha.
What is aniconic?
This system utilized by the Zhou dynasty is characterized by vassals under central imperial authority.
What is a feudal system?
Legend has it that the supreme deity of the Zhou dynasty would eventually reward benevolent monarchs with this, a phrase meaning enlightened rule of the entire world.
What is All Under Heaven?
This legendary Chinese dynasty most likely did not exist, but the Shang and Zhou certainly thought they did!
What is the Xia dynasty?
This former Seleucid satrap seceded to form an independent kingdom in Bactria, laying the groundwork for further Indo-Greek syncretism.
Who is Diodotus I Soter?
This syncretic monument commissioned by an Indo-Greek ambassador for an Indian monarch is material evidence for the former's Vasudevic devotion.
What is the Heliodorus pillar?
This type of warfare predominated in the Zhou period on account of the increase in walled, more heavily fortified urban settlements.
What is siege warfare?
While scholars cannot be certain due to the dearth of contemporary evidence, the taotie, recurring zoomorphic iconography of the Shang dynastic period, could very well be an example of this type of art, intended to ward off evil.
What is apotropaic?
Sanskrit, the language of the Brahmanic and Hindu scriptures, is a member of this language family that also includes Greek, Latin, the Romance languages, the Germanic languages...
What is Indo-European?