Hindus

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/hindus

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What does the word "Hindu" mean and where does it come from?The word "Hindu" comes from old Indo‑Iranian words that meant the land of seven rivers. It was first used to describe a region in northwestern India. Over time it became the name for people who follow Hinduism.
2. How did the word "Hindu" change over time?At first "Hindu" was just a place name. By the 16th century it started to mean people who lived in the Indian subcontinent but were not Muslims or Turkic. Today it is the name of a religion.

Sanātana Dharma: The indigenous name for Hinduism, emphasizing its timeless and universal principles of righteousness and cosmic order.
Sapta Sindhuḥ: An ancient Sanskrit term from the Rig Veda referring to a region of seven rivers in northwestern India.
Indian Subcontinent: A large geographical area in South Asia, historically and culturally significant to the development of Hinduism.
Diaspora: The dispersion of people from their original homeland to other parts of the world.