Harappan Civilization
Who was Sir John Marshall?
a British archaeologist who discovered and helped excavate Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro in the Indus Valley in the 1920s
Who were Aryans?
They were nomads who moved into the Indus Valley around 1500 BC; they conquered the people of northwestern India.
Which group of people came up with Hinduism?
Aryans
Who is the founder of Buddhism?
Siddhartha Gautama or Buddha
What do you call the religious duties of a Hindu or a Buddhist?
dharma
How were Sir John Marshall and his team's discovery helpful?
Their discovery helped archaeologists and historians to understand India's past.
What is something Aryans appreciated?
music, singing and dancing; they played the lute, harp, flute, drum and cymbals
What are the two basic social groups in Hinduism?
family and caste
Who was Asoka?
a grandson of Chandragupta; one of the greatest rulers of Mauryan Empire
he promoted Buddhism in his empire, building thousands of dome-shaped shrines called stupas; he even sent Buddhist missionaries into areas outside his own borders
What does pantheism mean?
It is the belief that everything in the universe is part of a supreme being.
What were some positives of the Indus River and Indus Valley?
Water from the river was an important source, and the fertile soil in the valley supported agriculture.
Which subjects did Aryans practice?
science and medicine; they were knowledgeable about astronomy and named many of the stars and planets
What do you call the written legacy that the ancient Hindus left?
Vedas (collections of sacred hymn texts of Hinduism)
What does it mean to be enlightened?
having received knowledge or understanding
What is the Biblical truth about suffering?
Suffering is the result of sin.
What were some characteristics of Harappans?
1. They drove ox-drawn carts.
2. They lived in two-story houses of brick and wood.
3. They lived in well-organized cities.
4. They used pictographs, which have not been translated.
What was especially important for Aryans to raise? Why?
Cattle breeding was especially important for the farmers because they were a basis of the Aryan economy (money). They were also used to pay soldiers or priests for their services.
What is the term called for the divine being?
Brahman
Which two things do Buddhists follow?
1. The Four Noble Truths
2. The Eightfold Path
How come Buddhism appealed to those members in the lower castes and outcastes?
These members hoped to do their duty, die and have a better life in a reincarnated state.
What are the three possible reasons for the disappearance of the Harappan civilization?
1. invasion
2. famine
3. flood
What are some characteristics of the Aryans?
1. They had a written language called the Sanskrit.
2. They were famous for their hymns, poetry and prayers.
3. They rode in chariots with two spoked wheels pulled by horses.
4. They settled in villages and lived in houses of wood and river plants.
What do Hindus believe is the solution to the problem with the world?
reincarnation: the belief that after a person dies, he or she comes back in another form; the cycle of birth, death and rebirth; how a person is reincarnated depends on the karma he has built up in his present incarnation
What did Buddha propose regarding suffering?
Suffering can be overcome if a person does good deeds and ignores his desires.
In Buddhist belief, when a person is in a state of complete enlightenment and has peace and freedom from sufferings, they have reached ______________.
nirvana