Sneak India House
What shape is India?
Triangle
India is a subcontinent. What is a subcontinent?
Large landmass apart from the rest of the continent
Who were the untouchables?
People who did impure work
Low social status
What is reincarnation?
Rebirth of a soul in a new body
What is nirvana?
Blissful peace without desire or suffering
Describe how monsoons affected crops.
Seasonal winds called monsoons caused:
Winter: dry monsoon winds (out to sea) = little rainfall
Summer: wet winds (into the land) = water crops
What beverage was an important part of the Aryans diet until they focused primarily on farming?
Milk
How did varnas differ from jatis?
Varnas = groupings based on one’s skill
Jati = grouping based on occupation (means birth group)
In Hinduism, what determines how a person is reborn?
Karma
Describe at least two things about Siddhartha’s life before enlightenment.
-Raised wealthy
- Dad shielded him from everything unpleasant
Describe how the cities were well-planned and organized.
Walls around cities
Earth mounds = protection from floods
Straight streets in a grid pattern
How did the Indo-Aryans measure wealth?
By the size of their cattle herds
Describe India’s caste system.
Caste system = social classes based on birth
Influenced:
Where lived
Job
Food
Who could marry
Describe one way to achieve moksha.
Way of Knowledge: understand one’s true soul and oneness with god
Way of Works: Religious rituals, Prayer, Offerings
Way of Devotion: love and worship one of the gods
4. Path of Meditation: discipline one’s mind with yoga
How can one reach nirvana?
Follow the Eightfold Path
What mathematical achievement helped promote trade?
Weights and measurements
What was the benefit of the caste system?
- Brought stability that helped India develop
Describe one of the two core beliefs of Hinduism.
Core Belief #1: All Indian gods are forms of brahman
Core Belief #2: Everyone is born with a soul
Describe one of the four life goals of Hinduism.
Do what is right (Don’t hurt living things)
Earn a livelihood with dignity
How can one reach enlightenment according to Buddha?
- Follow a Middle Way: Meaning: Accept the four truths
Why might the Indian people have abandoned the Indus Valley?
Diseases from mosquitoes
Stripped of forests for building/fuel
Floods
Cattle overgrazed (ate too much!)
Salt in soil = hard to grow crops
Earthquake
Climate: dried up rivers = no crops
Moved to Ganges (where it rains more)
What is the cost of the caste system?
Limited individual freedom
Describe one reason why so many people accepted Hinduism as their religion.
- Accepts new gods
- Didn’t require regular attendance at religious services
- Could worship at a shrine at home
Why did Siddhartha leave his comfortable life and become poor?
He saw old, sick people. And the dead. So he set out to find truth about life, suffering, and death.
(AND/OR)
Met a holy man and envied his peace (despite owning nothing and being homeless)
Describe at least two differences or similarities between Buddhism and Hinduism beliefs.
Buddhism:
- Accepted Hindu’s idea of karma
- BUT NOT: Permanent soul
- Believed: self = illusion (not real)
- DID NOT BELIEVE: In any gods / Varna roles