Indus Valley Civilizations
3. What was the importance of their caste system?
-Their caste system determined how people lived
5. How widely practiced is the Hindu religion? (Pg. 150)
-Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world
Define: dharma
the totality of the Buddhist's teachings; divine law
13. What was the importance of the Ayurveda?
-Ayurveda was a guide to medicine, diet, exercise, and disease.
Define: subcontinent
a large landmass that is part of a continent
1. What encouraged nomadic herdsmen to settle in the Indus River Valley? (Pg. 144)
-fertile soil
-plentiful water supply
6. Explain the concepts of reincarnation and karma in the Hindu belief system.
-Reincarnation is the belief that the soul is reborn in different bodies over different life cycles
-Karma is the belief that people’s actions determine the kind of life they will be reborn into
8. According to Buddhist tradition, what did Siddhartha Gautama seek to learn? (Pg.154)
-Siddhartha Gautama sought out how to be truly happy that would lead to nirvana, a state of bliss.
10. What was the significance of the Maurya Empire? Where was it located? (Pg. 156)
-Located in Northern India, the Maurya Empire was the first, great Indian Empire.
Define: golden age
a period of great cultural achievement
2. Why were the cities of MohenjoDaro and Harappa significant? (Pg. 146)
-first large, planned cities
(Be sure to know what a planned city is!)
7. Explain the roles of the following Hindu gods: Brahma
-Brahmin is the creator of the universe, the world, and the human race.
9. What is the importance of dharma in the Buddhist religion?
-Dharma is the divine law and totality of the Buddhists teachings.
11.Who was Asoka? How did he rule his empire? (Pg. 156)
-Asoka was the grandson of Chandragupta
-Ruled his empire with the peaceful, nonviolent principles of Buddhism.
Define: planned cities
a city built with a specific layout in mind
3. Who were the Aryans?
-migrant tribes that came into India from the north
7. Explain the roles of the following Hindu gods: Vishnu
-Vishnu is the preserver, and contains the balances of good and evil.
4. What was the importance of the Vedas?
-Vedas: sacred texts of rituals and hymns
-written in Sanskrit
12. How did the Gupta kings bring peace to their empire?
-The Gupta kings brought peace to their empire by allowing defeated kings to remain in power and continue to rule, and in return required payment from them.
Define: caste system
a rigid social hierarchy that is hereditary.
4. What was Sanskrit?
-Sanskrit was the Aryan language
7. Explain the roles of the following Hindu gods: Shiva
-Shiva is the destroyer and is responsible for all forms of change.
Define: nirvana
a state of bliss or the end of suffering caused by the cycle of rebirth in Buddhism
14. What important contributions did ancient India make to the fields of science, mathematics, and medicine?
-Ancient astronomers determined that the world was round.
-Mathematicians of ancient India devised the decimal system. They were the first to develop the concept of zero.
-Indians were the first to practice inoculation, which stimulates mild forms of disease in people so that they do not develop more serious forms.
Define: inoculation
a stimulation of a mild form of a disease in a person so he or she does not develop a more serious form.