Geography
Subcontinent
A large mass of land that is smaller than a continent
Hinduism
Ancient Indian religion based on Vedas text, with a set of beliefs relating to a caste system and the afterlife.
Bhramin
Priests, Scribes, Teachers
Harappans
Lived in Indus Valley after Aryans
Himalayas and Thar Dessert
Peninsula
Land surrounded by water on three sides
Buddhism
A religion which stems from Hinduism that believes in reincarnation, karma, and maksha
Kshatriya
Warriors, Kings
Harappan inventions
Wheel, Grid Pattern, Indus Script
Benefit of Isolation
Less likely to be attacked by enemies.
Monsoon
A seasonal change of wind direction that causes heavy rainfall in the summer and dry spells in the winter.
Karma
All the actions that a person completes in one life that affect their fate in the next life.
Vaishya
Merchants, Landowners
To carry stones and heavy items from one end of the farm to the other
Negative Affect of Isolation
Limited sharing of resources and ideas
5 Major Crops of India
Rice, Wheat, Millets, Maize, Pulses, Sugarcane, Oil Seed, Tea, Coffee, Rubber, Silk, Cotton, Watermelon, Cucumber, Muskmelon, Barley, Peas, Grain
Reincarnation
Most people cannot achieve moksha in one lifetime. Therefore, souls are reborn into another body in order to continue the quest for Moksha.
Sudra
Commoners, Peasants, Servants
Aryans
First known civilization in the Indus Valley, and the inventors of Hinduism
Benefit of being located near bodies of water
Possible trade routes via ocean to other civilizations
Effects of Monsoon Seasons on Crops
Nirvana
”Blowing out a candle,” or extinction. The ultimate goal of maksha.
Dalits (Untouchables)
Outcasts of society who are forced to do unwanted jobs and are treated as "unclean" by the rest of society.
Citadel
Large buildings in the city plan used for assembly halls and public gatherings
Three bodies of water surrounding India
Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean