Geography & India's Early Civilizations
What is the name of the tallest/highest mountain in the world?
Mt. Everest
What is the word for a Buddhist shrine that is shaped like a dome or mound?
stupa
How long did the Gupta Empire last?
about 200 years
Which word means, "a person who travels to go to a religious shrine or site"?
pilgrim
Who was an emperor of the Mauryan dynasty who many historians think was the empire’s greatest king?
Asoka
Where did India’s earliest civilization begin?
near the Indus River valley
What was the name Siddhartha's followers called him? AND what does it mean?
Buddha, which means “Enlightened One”
Why was Asoka considered to be an unusual ruler?
he was a strong military leader but hated bloodshed
Which word means, "a religious teacher and spiritual guide in Hinduism"?
guru
Who was an Indian prince who conquered a large area of land after Alexander’s invasion which created India’s first empire?
Chandragupta Maurya
What was the suttee custom in India?
when a man from a prominent family died, his wife was expected to leap into the funeral flames
What is the name for enlightened Buddhists who postpone going to Heaven?
bodhisattvas
What were three building projects/achievements Asoka did for the Mauryan empire?
built stupas, hospitals, and roads
Which word means, "religious belief that a soul is reborn in different bodies many times"?
reincarnation
Who was a famous Buddhist leader who also led the government and was believed to be a reincarnation of Buddha?
Dalai Lama
How do historians know about the way people lived in early India?
by studying the ruins of the two main cities
What is the difference between karma and dharma?
karma= the consequences a soul faces in its next life for its actions in this life
dharma= the divine law that requires people to perform the duties of their caste
What three things did Chandragupta Maurya implement to make his empire successful?
a strong army, a postal system, and a good spy system
Which word means, "a prince who leads an Aryan tribe in India"?
raja
Who was an important writer from the Gupta period?
Kalidasa
What were the Upanishads?
ancient sacred texts that describe the search for a universal spirit
What are the two branches of Buddhism that developed AND what was their differing views of Buddha?
Mahayana believes The Buddha is god.
Theravada believes The Buddha is NOT a god but a great teacher.
How was Chandragupta Maurya successfully able to conquer a large area of land?
Alexander the Great’s invasion left many of India’s kingdoms weak.
Which word means, "when religious leaders head the government"?
theocracy
Who was a leading mathematician of the Gupta Empire and one of the first to use algebra?
Aryabhata