Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
36 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Mahajanapadas |
"great foothold of a tribe" Early Aryan states/kingdoms established along the Ganges river |
|
Vedic |
Named after Vedas, the Sanskrit scriptures. Centered on Brahmanism and ritual ceremonies. Inflexible social organisation. Fire alters and sacred water. |
|
Ratha and Rathoutsava |
"Spoked wheel chariot." Festival of processions for temple deities. Forms of movable chariots transposed into stone temple architecture. |
|
Ghats |
Steps leading to the sacred bodies of water. In Varanasi, there are over 80 sets of such steps, including cremation ghats |
|
Vastu Shastra |
"Science of construction" Vedic doctrine based on 5 directional elements. Earth, Water, Air, Fire, and Space. |
|
Zoroastrianism |
Not for elites; communal rituals. Yet also encompassed an inflexible social organisation. Yearly ceremonies. Fire temples. |
|
Mandala |
Plan of the universe, commonly used to lay out building plans. |
|
Buddhism |
Gautama Buddha left his high life to seek enlightenment and found "The Middle Way." Traditions passed orally. |
|
Dharma |
Wheel of law. Common symbol of Buddhism. Used as a sculptrual element to cap Ashokan Pillars. |
|
Maurya Empire |
First Indian empire. 322-185 BCE. Flourished under Ashoka. |
|
Ashoka the Great |
Forsook military conquests and sought out, then promoted, Buddhism. Erected Ahoskan pillars inscribed with Sanskrit text. Financed Buddhist sites and monasteries. |
|
Stupa |
Earth mound covered in a hemispherical fired brick structure. Built with a relic of Buddha within its entity. Later versions (@ Sanchi) were crowned with a chattris within a harmika, built on a berm (medhi), surrounded by a balustrade (vedika), and accessed by gates (torana). Stupa were circumambulated (parikrama) |
|
Junnar Caves |
Rock-cut architecture. Inner circular chambers with pillars that created a rectangular hall and a circular path around a stupa. |
|
Karla Caves |
Developed chaitya hall, among the largest of rock-cut chaityas. High vaulted ceilings, sensuous human pillar capitals and relief sculptures. |
|
Taxila |
Commonly referred to as the contact zone between Greek and Indian civilizations. Greco-influenced axial layout filled with stupas; Geek, Hindu, Jain, and Zoroastrian temples; and Buddhist sanctuaries/baths. |
|
Erlitou Culture |
Stone age/early bronze age beginnings of Chinese society. Roots in mythic Xia Dynasty Distinct from Mesopotamian and Egyptian cultures as Erlitou culture incorporated metallurgy and agriculture into a single economy. Early prominence of stratified society, with huge rammed earth and wood palaces. |
|
Shang Dynasty |
Bronze age. Many rammed earth and wood palaces/temples built with northern "dragon" hills. |
|
Yin Xu |
Final capital of Shang Dynasty. Location of oracle bones and copper chests and vases. Non-axial layout deters evil spirit entry. |
|
Shangdi |
Supreme god, first surfacing in Shang Dynasty. Too distant to worship; only accessible through ancestral worship. Emporers seen as "sons of Shangdi"="sons of heaven" |
|
Tomb of Lady Fu Hao |
Burial pit of Shang Dynasty queen, high priestess, or warrior. Buried along side warrior guards and dogs, along with ritual bells, instruments, and bronze and jade jewelry |
|
Zhou Dynasty |
Prestigious chariot army which overthrows Shang Dynasty. Established a quasi-feudal system and the Chinese language. Tianming replaces Shangdi culture. Divided regional reign which leads to the "warring state period." |
|
Hao Feng |
Western Zhou Dynasty capital. Walled enclosure with central, elevated earth temple built of wood. Strong symmetry with central axis, with screen wall to prevent evil spirits. |
|
Tianming |
"mandate from heaven" Turn from Shangdi. Concept of heaven blessing a good emperor, and disasters the result of poor rule, which could terminate an emperor's reign. |
|
School of Law; Legalism |
Discipline from above. Strictly enforced laws. A philosophical basis for imperial government. |
|
Taoism |
Individual in nature, rather than society. Seeking to follow "the way of the universe." Feng shui, and yin-yang. |
|
China's Iron Age |
Focussed on cast iron, instead of wrought, as in Mediterranean and Mesopotamian cultures. |
|
Warring States Period |
Followed Zhou Dynasty. Marked by feuding vassal states, who built cities with fortified walls and competitive palaces. |
|
Great Wall |
Begun in 5th century BCE, greatly enlarged in the Qin Dynasty. Began as wood and rammed earth structure to protect the northern extents of the dynasties. |
|
Xianyang |
Huge wooden palace complex built above a rammed earth substructure to give the impression of a multi-storied building. Symmetrical emphasis. |
|
Tomb of Marquis Yi |
Zeng ruler from Warring States Period. Great bells. 4 chambered burial with Windows between rooms to allow movement of the body-bound soul. |
|
Qin Dynasty |
First imperial dynasty of China, albeit short. Increased trade, agriculture production, and military protection. Enlarged the Great Wall. Standardised weights, measures, and currency. |
|
Lingqu Canal |
Link between China's two main waterways. An impressive 34 km length. Expedited water transport and promoted southwestern expansion. |
|
Tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang |
Buried, walled-in city/empire representation. Subterranean walls redirect water table. Terracotta army, of which no two soldiers share a face. 8,000 soldiers plus chariots and horses. |
|
Han Dynasty |
The Golden Age. Successful expansion of territory and built upon and strengthened the overland silk route. Established writing. |
|
Chang'an |
Ideal square twisted to mimic the big dipper, and also align along river. Palace occupied 1/2 of city area. Divided into 9 districts, each containing 160 wards, each ward housing 50-100 families. Four phase expansion. |
|
Weiyang Gong |
Endless palace. 4.8 km² (12 acre) area. Showcased the "invisibility" of the emperor. |