South Asia 1
Where is much of South Asia’s most fertile land located?
along the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra Rivers
What was the key factor in determining a person’s social class in ancient Indus Valley society?
which varna they were born into
Hindus believe in______________ , or the cycle of rebirth of a soul.
reincarnation
What was marriage like in early South Asian society?
Marriages were usually arranged by parents
Why did the first people settle in the Indus River valley?
its rich soil for farming
The concept of dharma means that followers of Hinduism should
do their duty.
Buddhists seek enlightenment by practicing_________ , which involves focusing one’s thoughts to gain spiritual awareness.
meditation
The Indus Valley civilization flourished between 2600 and 1900 B.C.E. in the cities of
Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa.
Which of the following best describes Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa?
well-planned cities built of mud-brick
According to Buddhists, why did Siddhartha abandon the life he was born into?
to gain spiritual truth
After Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka, the Mauryan Empire declined because
later rulers were less skillful.
Buddhists hope to reach______________ , a state of perfect happiness and peace.
nirvana
Which of these events took place during the Vedic period?
Aryans moved into South Asia and mixed with Indus River valley peoples.
What is the core belief of Jainism?
nonviolence toward all beings
Rulers of the Gupta Empire gained wealth by controlling
trade
What was an important contribution of the Gupta Empire?
concepts of zero and infinity
What language did Indo-Europeans use to record the Vedas?
Sanskrit
Because of the Hindu belief in reincarnation, many ancient South Asians
accepted the jati system
What was a main goal of South Asian epic poems and sacred texts?
to teach moral lessons
What kind of work did people in the Dalit community do?
They did work that others would not do, such as sanitation.