glossary of terms
historical and cultural terms
- ashoka edicts
- rock carvings of emperor ashoka containing moral and administrative directives promoting buddhism and dharma
- aryabhata
- gupta period mathematician who developed zero and decimal system
- arya samaj
- social reform movement founded by dayananda saraswati in 19th century
- ashram
- hermitage or monastery where spiritual and intellectual learning occurs
- brahmins
- highest caste in varna system, traditionally priests and scholars
- brahmo samaj
- social reform movement founded by rajaram mohan roy
- buddhism
- religion and philosophy founded by siddhartha gautama based on dharma and enlightenment
- bhakti
- devotional movement emphasizing personal connection with deity
- caste system
- social hierarchy system dividing society into hereditary classes
- chola empire
- south indian maritime and military power controlling spice trade routes
- chandragupta maurya
- founder of mauryan empire with centralized administration
- delhi sultanate
- islamic rule in north india preceding mughal empire
- dharma
- cosmic law and duty, ethical and moral principles in hinduism and buddhism
- dynasty
- succession of rulers from same family or lineage
- din-i-ilahi
- akbar's attempt to synthesize hinduism and islam
- empire
- large political unit with central authority controlling multiple territories and peoples
- edict
- official proclamation or decree by ruler
- gupta empire
- golden age of classical indian culture and scientific advancement
- gopuram
- ornamental tower gate at entrance of south indian temple
- guru
- teacher or spiritual master in hindu and sikh traditions
- harappa
- indus valley civilization site in punjab
- hinduism
- major religion originating in india based on vedas and diverse philosophical traditions
- indus valley civilization
- ancient urban civilization in northwestern india with sophisticated planning and undeciphered script
- independence
- freedom from colonial rule achieved by india in 1947
- jainism
- religion emphasizing non-violence and karma philosophy
- jizya
- tax levied on non-muslims in islamic states, abolished by akbar
- karma
- law of cause and effect in hindu and buddhist philosophy
- kalidasa
- greatest classical sanskrit poet of gupta period
- kautilya
- advisor to chandragupta maurya who wrote arthashastra on statecraft
- mauryan empire
- first major empire in ancient india under chandragupta and ashoka
- mohenjo-daro
- major indus valley civilization city with advanced urban planning
- mughal empire
- indo-islamic dynasty ruling most of india for over 300 years
- monastery
- religious community where monks practice spiritual discipline
- nirvana
- state of enlightenment and liberation in buddhism
- partition
- division of british india into india and pakistan in 1947
- pataliputra
- capital of mauryan and gupta empires
- rajput
- warrior caste in northern india ruling various kingdoms
- raja raja chola i
- greatest chola emperor who expanded empire and built brihadisvara temple
- stupa
- dome-shaped buddhist shrine housing relics of buddha or saints
- shah jahan
- mughal emperor who commissioned taj mahal
- sati
- practice of widow self-immolation, opposed by social reformers
- taj mahal
- monument built by shah jahan for wife mumtaz mahal, architectural masterpiece
- thanjavur
- capital of chola empire
- vedas
- ancient sacred texts of hinduism including rigveda, yajurveda, samaveda, atharvaveda
- vedic period
- era in which vedas were composed with arrival of indo-aryans
- vijayanagara empire
- major south indian empire known for administrative excellence and temple architecture