founder of the Mauryan dynasty, the first empire in the Indian subcontinent; first centralized government since Harappan civilization. r.322-298 BCE
Guptas
dynasty that succeeded the Kushans in the 3rd century C.E., which included all but southern Indian regions; less centralized than Mauryan Empire.
gurus
originally referred to as brahmans, who served as teachers for the princes of the imperial court of the Guptas.
Varnas
clusters of caste groups in Aryan society; four social castes—brahmans (priests), warriors,merchants, and peasants; beneath four Aryan castes was group of socially untouchable Dasas.
monsoons
seasonal winds crossing Indian subcontinent and southeast Asia; during summer bring rains.
scholar-gentry
Chinese class created by the marital linkage of the local land-holding aristocracy with the office-holding shi; superseded shi as governors of China.
reincarnation
the successive rebirth of the soul according to merits earned in previous lives.
Indra
chief deity of the Aryans; depicted as a colossal, hard-drinking warrior.
nirvana
the Buddhist state of enlightenment; a state of tranquility.
Himalayas
mountain region marking the northern border of the Indian subcontinent.Site of the Aryan settlements that formed small kingdoms or warrior republics
