| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Empire | an advanced society with a strong, organized government that is able to exert control over a vast territory, often through conquest |
| Satrap | the governor of a province in ancient Persia |
| Zoroastrianism | a Persian religion founded in the sixth century b.c. by the prophet Zoroaster, promulgated in the Avesta, and characterized by worship of a supreme god Ahura Mazda who requires good deeds for help in his cosmic struggle against the evil spirit Ahriman |
| Caste System | a system of rigid social stratification characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social barriers sanctioned by custom, law, or religion |
| Hinduism | the dominant religion of India that emphasizes dharma with its resulting ritual and social observances and often mystical contemplation and ascetic practices |
| Reincarnation | ****rebirth in new bodies or forms of life |
| Karma | the force generated by a person's actions held in Hinduism and Buddhism to perpetuate transmigration and in its ethical consequences to determine the nature of the person's next existence |
| Buddhism | a religion of eastern and central Asia growing out of the teaching of Siddhārtha Gautama that suffering is inherent in life and that one can be liberated from it by cultivating wisdom, virtue, and concentration |
| Nirvana | the final enlightenment that transcends suffering, karma, and samsara and is sought especially in Buddhism through the extinction of desire and individual consciousness |
| Vedas | any of four canonical collections of hymns, prayers, and liturgical formulas that comprise the earliest Hindu sacred writings |
| Confucianism | the teachings of Chinese philosopher Confucius that emphasize filial piety and respect for authority |
| Daoism | a Chinese mystical philosophy traditionally founded by Lao-tzu in the sixth century b.c. that teaches conformity to the Tao by unassertive action and simplicity |
| Legalism | the philosophy of strict, literal, or excessive conformity to the law and authority |
| Civili Service | ****the administrative service of a government or international agency exclusive of the armed forces |
Definitions from lectures and Merriam-Webster.