Ancient India: A Journey Through Time

An ancient Indian empire that existed from 322–185 BCE

"The Maurya Empire was one of the largest empires in ancient India."

A prominent emperor of the Maurya Dynasty, known for spreading Buddhism

"Emperor Ashoka promoted the spread of Buddhism across Asia."

A Bronze Age civilization in the northwest regions of South Asia

"The Indus Valley Civilization is noted for its urban planning and elaborate drainage systems."

The four sacred texts of ancient Indian scripture

"The Vedas are considered the oldest religious texts in India."

An ancient language of India, in which the Hindu scriptures are written

"Sanskrit is used in many religious texts and rituals in India."

A major religion and cultural tradition of South Asia, which developed from the Vedic religion

"Hinduism is the world's third-largest religion, with over a billion followers."

A religion and philosophy based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha

"Buddhism emphasizes the path to enlightenment through meditation and ethical living."

A social stratification system in India

"The caste system in India is rooted in ancient traditions and continues to influence society."

An ancient Indian collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns

"The Rigveda is one of the oldest known texts in any Indo-European language."

An archaeological site in Punjab, Pakistan, which was part of the Indus Valley Civilization

"Harappa is known for its advanced urban planning and architecture."

A group of Indo-European nomadic peoples who migrated into India

"The Aryans are believed to have contributed to the development of the early Vedic culture."

Philosophical texts considered to be an early source of Hindu religion

"The Upanishads explore the concepts of Brahman and Atman."

An archaeological site in Sindh, Pakistan, one of the largest settlements of the Indus Valley Civilization

"Mohenjo-daro is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its sophisticated civil engineering."

Ancient Indian texts prescribing social laws and conduct

"The Dharmashastra covers various aspects of caste, family, and individual duties."

A 700-verse Hindu scripture in Sanskrit that is part of the epic Mahabharata

"The Bhagavad Gita is a conversation between Prince Arjuna and the god Krishna, addressing the moral dilemmas faced in life."