| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Indo-Aryans | branch of Indo-Europeans who migrated into India from the plateau of Iran |
| Vedas | religious text of the Indo-Aryans that tell about the history and culture of the Aryans |
| Dravidians | descendants of the original inhabitants of the Indus River Valley |
| Kshatriyas | Indo-Aryan warriors |
| Brahmins | Indo-Aryan priests |
| Vaisyas | Indo-Aryan herders, farmers, artisans, and merchants |
| Sundras | one of the non-Indo-Aryan Varnas which consisted of farm workers, servants, and laborers/ one of the lowest classes in Indo-Aryan society |
| Caste System | a system of social rank in Indo-Aryan society, based on birth |
| Yin and Yang | Chinese belief that two complimentary forces dictate everything in the Universe |
| Calligraphy | Chinese art of fine handwriting |
| Mandate of Heaven | the divine right to rule in which the Chinese believe the gods choose the leading dynasty |
| Silk Road | the trade route that eventually connected China to the Middle East and Europe |
| Hinduism | One of the two major religions that emerged in Ancient India |
| Buddhism | One of the two major religions that emerged in Ancient India |
| Moksha | union with Brahma / the goal of all Hindus |
| Reincarnation | rebirth of the soul |
| Dharma | the religious or moral duties that all hindus must follow |
| Karma | action of a person's life that affect his/her fate in the next life |
| Siddhartha Gautama | founder of Buddhism |
| Four Noble Truths | principals that are at the heart of Buddhism which includes the Eight Fold Path |
| Nirvana | to become one with the universe, also known as "perfect peace" / the goal of all Buddhists |
| Chandragupta Maurya | created the first great Indian Empire |
| Asoka | the most honored Mauryan emperor, grandson to Chandragupta, converted to Buddhism, stressed nonviolent means to achieve a goal |
| Confucious | also known as Master Kong or Kong Fuzi, considered to be the greatest Chinese philosopher, ideas included respect for your elders and practicing a code of politeness |
| Laozi | known as the 'Old Master" / founder of the Chinese philosophy known as Taoism / Daoism |
| Shinto | "the way of the gods" / the worship of forces of nature in early Japanese society |
| Archipelago | chain of islands |
| Varnas | social classes of Indo-Aryan society |
| Sanskirt | language / writing of the Indo-Aryans |
| Leizu | woman who discovered the idea that the thread produced by the silkworm could be spun into cloth |