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Indus River River in South Asia where an early civilization grew world-ancient-india
Indus Valley Civilization Early culture in today's Pakistan and India, about 2600-1900 BCE world-ancient-india
Harappa One of the main cities of the Indus Valley Civilization world-ancient-india
Mohenjo-daro Major Indus city with a planned layout and a Great Bath world-ancient-india
Great Bath Large water tank found at Mohenjo-daro world-ancient-india
Grid plan Streets laid out in straight lines, as in Indus cities world-ancient-india
Indus script Symbols on seals that have not yet been decoded world-ancient-india
Seal Small stone with an image used to mark goods world-ancient-india
Drainage Indus cities had covered drains for waste water world-ancient-india
Monsoon Seasonal wind that brings heavy rains to South Asia world-ancient-india
Himalayas Mountains north of the Indian subcontinent world-ancient-india
Ganges River Sacred river in northern India world-ancient-india
Subcontinent A large landmass that is part of a continent, like India world-ancient-india
Vedic period Era following the Indus cities when the Vedas were composed world-ancient-india
Vedas Oldest sacred texts of Hinduism world-ancient-india
Sanskrit Ancient language of India used in sacred and scholarly writing world-ancient-india
Hinduism Religion with many gods and ideas like karma and dharma world-ancient-india
Brahman Hindu idea of the universal spirit world-ancient-india
Karma Idea that actions have consequences world-ancient-india
Dharma Duty or right way of living world-ancient-india
Reincarnation Belief that souls are reborn in new lives world-ancient-india
Moksha Release from the cycle of rebirth world-ancient-india
Upanishads Texts about the nature of the self and the universe world-ancient-india
Mahabharata Long epic poem that includes the Bhagavad Gita world-ancient-india
Bhagavad Gita Section of the Mahabharata; a conversation about duty world-ancient-india
Ramayana Epic poem about Rama and Sita world-ancient-india
Caste system Division of society into groups by birth world-ancient-india
Varna Four traditional groupings: Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras world-ancient-india
Dalits People historically outside the caste system, once called untouchables world-ancient-india
Siddhartha Gautama Prince who became the Buddha, about 500s-400s BCE world-ancient-india
Buddha Means 'awakened one' world-ancient-india
Four Noble Truths Buddhist teaching about suffering and how to end it world-ancient-india
Eightfold Path Buddhist guide to right living world-ancient-india
Nirvana Peace beyond suffering in Buddhism world-ancient-india
Bodh Gaya Place where the Buddha is said to have gained enlightenment world-ancient-india
Jainism Religion that strongly stresses nonviolence world-ancient-india
Mahavira Teacher who formed Jainism's main teachings world-ancient-india
Ahimsa Principle of not harming living beings world-ancient-india
Mahajanapadas Sixteen early Indian kingdoms and republics world-ancient-india
Alexander in India Alexander the Great reached the Indus region in 326 BCE world-ancient-india
Chandragupta Maurya Founded the Maurya Empire, about 321 BCE world-ancient-india
Maurya Empire First empire to unite most of India world-ancient-india
Ashoka Maurya emperor who embraced Buddhism and nonviolence world-ancient-india
Ashoka's edicts Messages carved on pillars and rocks about fair rule world-ancient-india
Chakravartin Wheel-turning ruler, an ideal king world-ancient-india
Arthashastra Ancient book on government and strategy, linked to Kautilya world-ancient-india
Pataliputra Capital of the Maurya Empire world-ancient-india
Gupta Empire Dynasty from about 320 to 550 CE, called a golden age world-ancient-india
Chandragupta I Founder of the Gupta Empire world-ancient-india
Kalidasa Great Sanskrit poet and playwright of the Gupta era world-ancient-india
Aryabhata Mathematician and astronomer who wrote about zero and Earth's rotation world-ancient-india
Zero Number concept developed in India that made modern math easier world-ancient-india
Decimal system Counting in base ten, developed in India world-ancient-india
Hindu-Arabic numerals The digits 0 to 9 that came from India and spread through the Arab world world-ancient-india
Chess Game that began in India as chaturanga world-ancient-india
Iron pillar of Delhi Ancient pillar that has hardly rusted world-ancient-india
Ajanta caves Rock-cut Buddhist caves with paintings world-ancient-india
Ellora caves Rock-cut temples of Hindu, Buddhist and Jain faiths world-ancient-india
Stupa Dome-shaped Buddhist monument world-ancient-india
Sushruta Ancient Indian physician known for surgery world-ancient-india
Ayurveda Traditional Indian system of medicine world-ancient-india
Yoga Practice of body, breath and mind that began in India world-ancient-india
Spice trade Pepper and other spices from India were traded to many lands world-ancient-india
Silk Road in India Indian goods like cotton, spices and gems moved along trade routes world-ancient-india
Delhi Sultanate Muslim rulers in northern India, 1206-1526 world-ancient-india
Mughal Empire Empire founded by Babur in 1526 that ruled much of India world-ancient-india
Akbar Mughal emperor known for religious tolerance and a strong government world-ancient-india
Shah Jahan Mughal emperor who built the Taj Mahal world-ancient-india
Taj Mahal White marble tomb in Agra built in the 1600s world-ancient-india
British East India Company Trading company that gained great power in India world-ancient-india
Mahatma Gandhi Led India's nonviolent independence movement world-ancient-india
Indian independence (1947) India gained freedom from British rule and was partitioned into India and Pakistan world-ancient-india
Partition (1947) Division of British India into India and Pakistan world-ancient-india
Diwali Festival of lights, celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains world-ancient-india
Sikhism Religion founded by Guru Nanak in the 1400s in Punjab world-ancient-india