Early Civilization in South Asia
Choose one of the 4 varnas and explain its social role.
Kshatriya: protect
Vaishya: Manage
Shudra: Produce
Through which mechanism did Buddha stress that enlightenment could be reached?
Meditation
Who founded the first Indian empire?
Chandragupta Maurya
Name three geographic barriers which made it difficult to invade China:
Gobi Desert, Tian Shan Mountains, Pacific Ocean, Kunlun Mountains, Himalayas, Thick Rainforests
What was the second Chinese dynasty to come to power?
Zhou
What conclusion can archaeologists draw from examining the layout of Indus cities?
A strong government must have been involved in the planning of such uniform structures and designs.
What is the word which represents the belief of nonviolence in both Hinduism and Buddhism?
Ahimsa
What was the purpose of Ashoka's stone pillars (or Edicts)?
Offered moral advice and promised a just government for all.
What changes were made to the economy of the Zhou which made trade easier?
They changed to a money economy. Their coins even had small circular openings to allow for them to be carried on cords.
What affect did the Silk Road have on China?
Promoted the exchange of goods, cultures and ideas
According to the Vedic society, the gods divided the body of the first man, Purusha, into four parts which would become the four _______________ of Vedic society.
Varnas, or social groups
Describe the roles of karma and dharma in Hinduism.
In order to obtain good karma, which would be needed to reach moksha, one would perform religious and moral duties called dharma.
Which Indian empire was known for creating a system of writing numbers that we still use today?
Gupta
What is feudalism?
Which Emperor ordered the building of the Great Wall of China?
Shi Huangdi
What was the role of cattle in Early Indian Civilizations?
Cattle were worshipped because they both provided milk and plowed the land. Wealth was often measured in the number of cows or bulls a person owned.
What are the four aspects of the Eightfold path?
Right Views, Right Intentions, Right Speech, Right Actions, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Contemplation
Which major event caused Ashoka to embrace Buddhism and start practicing nonviolence?
The Battle of Kalinga
Why did Confucianism influence Chinese culture more than Daoism?
Confucianism focused on order and social hierarchy, both of which became important in Chinese government and society.
What was the Civil Servant System, and what was its impact on Chinese government?
The Civil Servant System was an idea that government workers should earn their position through merit, and not through family ties. Thus, a system of exams was set up for those to earn such rules. This Confucian influence on government remained until 1912.
Describe the difference between the Vedas and the Ramayana.
The Vedas are a collection of hymns, chants, rituals and religious teachings, while the Ramayana is a long poem, known as an epic, which emphasizes values.
Describe the caste system. What was its significance on Indian culture?
The caste system is a birth-based system in which one is born into a specific sub-caste or jati (occupation group). One cannot change castes in this life, but through karma could achieve a higher caste in the next life. The caste system provided a strong structure, sense of identity and cultural hierarchy that would not be disputed.
Describe why the Gupta empire declined. What impact would this have on future Indian empires?
The Gupta Empire declined due to:
1) weak rulers 2) civil war 3) foreign invaders
Afterward, Gupta split into multiple kingdoms and would see no other great empire like the Maurya or Guptas for almost 1,000 years.
Describe the difference between Confucianism and Daoism.
Confucianism stresses harmony with this life (not the next), while daoism stresses the belief in the balance between the yin and the yang.
Describe three reasons why the Han was considered a Golden Age.
The Han Empire invented multiple useful items such as the fishing rod, the steer rudder for ships, the seismograph, an advanced time-keeping device, paper and the wheelbarrow. The Han also utilized the Silk Road to exchange goods, cultures and ideas with the West.