7Th Grade Social Studies Final Vocabulary

Front 1

Indus River

Back 1

River that empties into the arabian sea.

Front 2

Ganges River

Back 2

River in northern India that runs south of the himalayas and into the Indian Ocean.

Front 3

Monsoons

Back 3

Strong wind that blows one direction in winter and the opposite direction in the summer.

Front 4

Subcontinent

Back 4

Large landmass that is part of a continent but distinct from it.

Front 5

Himalayas

Back 5

Highest mountain in the world, southern Asia.

Front 6

Hinduism

Back 6

Religion of India that stresses that one main force that connects all of life.

Front 7

Caste Systems

Back 7

Social system in which a person's place is is determined by the rank of the family into which (s)he is born.

Front 8

Reincarnation

Back 8

Belief that people move in constant cycle of life, death, and rebirth.

Front 9

Dharma

Back 9

Laws and duties that guide the behavior of each caste member.

Front 10

Buddihsm

Back 10

Religion founded by Siddhartha Gautama which teaches that the most important thing in life is to reach peace by ending sufferning.

Front 11

Monk

Back 11

Man who devotes his life to a religious group.

Front 12

Krama

Back 12

End result of a person's good and bad acts, which determines his/her rebirth.

Front 13

Four Noble Truths

Back 13

Principles that rule life and promise an end to suffering.

Front 14

Eightfold Path

Back 14

Basic rules of behavior and belief leading to an end of suffering.

Front 15

Middle Way

Back 15

Way of life, niether too strict nor too easy.

Front 16

Siddhartha Gautama

Back 16

Known as the buddha (Enlightened One), started Buddism.

Front 17

Sanskrit

Back 17

Written language developed by the Aryans.

Front 18

Guru

Back 18

A rerligios teacher and spiritual guide in Hinduism.

Front 19

Nirvana

Back 19

State of wisdom and freedom from the cycle of rebirth.

Front 20

Theocracy

Back 20

Government ruled by religious leaders.

Front 21

Dynasty

Back 21

Long line of rulers from the same family.

Front 22

Stupas

Back 22

Buddist shrine shaped like a mound or dome.

Front 23

Pilgrim

Back 23

person who travels for religous reasons.

Front 24

Aryans

Back 24

Poeple from central/south Asia who conqured Harappans and developed the caste system and Sanskrit.

Front 25

Brahman

Back 25

In Hinduism, universal spirit from which all gods/goddesses are different parts.

Front 26

Penninsula

Back 26

Body of land with water on 3 sides (Michigan)

Front 27

Colonies

Back 27

Settlement in a new territory that keeps close ties with its homeland.

Front 28

Polis

Back 28

Early Greek city-state, madew up of a city and the surrounding country side and run like an independent country.

Front 29

Acropolis

Back 29

Large hill where people sought shelter and safety in times of war and met to discuss community issues.

Front 30

Agora

Back 30

Open area that served as a marketplace and meeting place.

Front 31

Jury

Back 31

Group of citizens chosen to hear evidence and make a decision in a court of law.

Front 32

Citizen

Back 32

Person with rights and responsibilites in his/her community or country- In ancient Greece, only males could be citizens.

Front 33

Assembly

Back 33

Lawmaking body of government made up of a group of citizens.

Front 34

Tyrant

Back 34

Person who takes power by force and rules with absolute power and authority (form of government is called tryranny).

Front 35

Oligarchy

Back 35

Gorvernment in which a few, elite (wealthy and powerful) people rule; Olig means few; Archy means rulership.

Front 36

Democracy

Back 36

Government in which all citizens share in the running of the government; 1st democracy started in Athens, Greece; Demo means people; Cracy means power.

Front 37

Monarchy

Back 37

Government ruled by a king or queen; Mono means 1; Archy means rulership.

Front 38

City-State

Back 38

Independent state made up of a city and the surrounding land and villages.

Front 39

Sparta

Back 39

Largest of the ancient Greece city-states.

Front 40

Athens

Back 40

City-state in ancient Greece which developed into a democracy; most powerful of the city-states, 1st Olympics.

Front 41

Helots

Back 41

Person who was conquered and enslaved by the Spartans.

Front 42

Persia

Back 42

Area which is now southwestern Iran.

Front 43

Satrapies

Back 43

20 States into which Darius divided the Persian Empire.

Front 44

Satrap

Back 44

Official who ruled a state in the Persian Empire under Darius.