Geography of Ancient India
What mountain range separates India from the rest of Asia?
The Himalayas
What is the supreme spiritual force or god in Hinduism?
Brahman
What does the name Buddha mean?
The Enlightened One
Which emperor spread Buddhism across India?
Ashoka
Who were the Indo-Aryans?
A group from Central Asia who brought the caste system to India
What are the two major rivers of ancient India?
The Indus River and the Ganges River
In what language were Hindu sacred texts like the Vedas written?
Sanskrit
Who was the founder of Buddhism?
Siddhartha Gautama
What two games did Ancient India come up with?
Chess and Snakes and Ladders
What group was known as the “Untouchables”
The Dalits
What does the term subcontinent mean?
A large section of land that is smaller than a continent
The last social class also called the Dalit is
"The Untouchables"
What is the main goal of Buddhism?
To reach nirvana, a state of peace free from suffering and desire
What was the “golden age” of ancient India known for?
The Gupta Empire—advances in art, literature, math, medicine, and science
What types of jobs did Dalits typically perform?
Cleaning, disposing of waste, and farm labor
How did the geography of India and Egypt help their civilizations grow?
They all developed near rivers that supported large populations
What determines your position in the next life according to Hindu beliefs?
Karma
According to tradition, how did Buddha reach enlightenment?
He meditated under a fig tree for several weeks
What mathematical concept was developed in India
Why were Dalits called “Untouchables”?
Other castes believed they were impure due to sins in past lives, they were dirty, etc
Why do historians still have many questions about the Indus Valley Civilization?
Their writing system cannot be translated today
What are the four main varnas (social classes) in Hinduism?
Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaisya, and Sudra
What is one key difference between Hinduism and Buddhism?
(Classroom Answer)
Buddhists believe anyone can escape reincarnation, while Hindus believe it depends on social class
What evidence do archaeologists use to show that cities like Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro were well-planned?
They had organized grid patterns, drainage systems, and indoor plumbing
What evidence shows that the Indus Valley people traded with Mesopotamia?
Archaeologists found Harappan seals in Mesopotamia