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AP World History: Ch. 4 Classical Civilization--India, Pt. 1 Flashcards

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4748757581MaterialismA practice of the priestly class that came under criticism by many religious seers and dissenting philosophers.0
4748760048Social HierarchyCreated ritual divisions and restrictions on intermarriage between social groups.1
4748765102MauryasFirst empire in India beginning in the late 4th century B.C.E. located in east India that was short lived.2
4748767016GuptaPowerful empire that arose in the early 4th century C.E. from northern India that reasserted brahmans' dominance.3
4748782551Alexander the GreatInvaded India in 327--not conquering, but bringing India in contact with Hellenistic culture.4
4748792594IsolatedIndia was forced to experience and adapt to other cultures, and China did not because of geographical and social phenomenon.5
4748797951HimalayasNorthern mountain ranges that separated India6
4748803902MonsoonsRains crucial for farming, but sometimes unpredictable brining too much or too little rain.7
4748805468AryansIndo-European migrants who penetrated the Indian subcontinent becoming farmers and developed a series of oral epics called the Vedas.8
4748808634SanskritThe literary language of the new culture.9
4748809610VedasComposed by various priests that told stories about gods and proper standards of human behavior.10
4748868245Indus and GangesTwo major rivers in India that hosted great agricultural regions.11
4748870211VarnaAn Aryan social class based on the Aryans' belief that indigenous people were inferior.12
4748905665KshatriyasWarrior, governing class.13
4748907380BrahmansPriestly class.14
4748908342VaisyasTraders and farmers15
4748909224SudrasCommon laborers16
4748909227UntrouchablesLowest class relegated to the worst, menial jobs.17
4748913735JatiA smaller subgroup within a caste with distinctive occupations tied to a social station by birth.18
4748918992Rig-VedaThe first Aryan epic, and attributed the rise of the caste system to the gods.19
4748921069PolythesticIndian religion recognized multiple gods and goddesses who presided over fire, sun, death and other natural phenomenon.20
4748921860IndraThe god of thunder and strength21
4748935603UpanishadsCollection of works that became the basis for Hindu beliefs that expressed how nature was shaped by gods and a divine force.22
4748988025Chandragupta MauryaSoldier, who in 322 B.C.E. became the first leader of the Mauryan Dynasty.23
4748995786AutocraticA style of governing that relies heavily on a ruler's personal and military power.24
4748997256AshokaGrandson of Chandragupta Maurya who greatly expanded Indian territory and ultimately converted to Buddhism.25
4749001097DharmaAn ethical guide based on laws of moral consequences.26
4749008504KanishkaGreat Kushnan king who invaded India from the NW after the fall of the Mauryan Dynasty.27
4749034120KautilyaPolitical advisor to Chnadragupta whose work the Arthashastra told leaders how to keep power similar to Legalism in China.28

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