Geography and the origins of India
Indus
Harappa
Mohenjo-Daro
What are the sacred texts of Hinduism called? (The Aryans brought these scriptures into the Indus Valley and sparked the birth of Hinduism)
the Vedas
Which level of the caste system consists of people who are employed by higher caste employers AND is the most populous (has the most people) caste?
Sudras (on the bottom of the pyramid)
Which religion was widely practiced in China in the 1500s AD but originated in India?
Buddhism
Which caste contained the outcastes?
Untouchables
What major disruption led to the decline and abandonment of the Indus ValleY?
drought
Hinduism believes that good karma in this life can help you escape ________________, which is the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.
reincarnation
Hindus believed that their caste in their reincarnated life could be changed by their actions (good OR bad) in this life. This belief was called ____________.
karma (what goes around, comes around)
Who is considered the founder of Buddhism?
Siddharta Gautama
In India, what name is used to describe the rigid class system?
the caste system
How did the Himalayan Mountains impact Indian civilizations?
provided protection (no one was going to climb over those mtns and attack India!)
Hinduism believed in many forms of one ______, called the _______________.
god
Brahma
Which caste were the priests and scholars?
Which caste were the warriors and rulers?
Brahmins
Kshatriyas
What did Buddha believe was the cause of suffering?
selfish desires
After the Aryans invaded the Indus Valley, there was a new _______ religion, a new social class system called a ____________ system and a new type of government with _________ ___________.
Vedic
caste
tribal councils
How did the two river valleys (the Indus and the Ganges) impact Indian Civilization? List 3 ways.
Created fertility
Provided water for irrigation from flooding
Increased agriculture (which increased economics $$)
The ancient writings of Hinduism are called the _________________.
Upanishads
Which caste were the merchants and businessmen?
Which caste were the laborers and servants?
Vaishyas
Sudras
What is the 4th Noble Truth?
The cure to suffering is the 8Fold Path.
Weapons (like knives), coins, and bronze statues can all be traced back to the tradition of __________ in Ancient India.
metallurgy (metal science and technology )
How did the Aryans influence the Harappan civilization when they migrated into the Indus Valley? List 3 ways.
Introduced new religion with the Vedas
Brought in new weapons (they were warrior people)
Increased trade (started trading as far as Meso.)
Hinduism eventually spread as far as ________ in Southern Asia.
Java
What are two effects of the caste system ?
People were prejudice against lower castes.
Your caste determined your occupation (your job!)
According to the Buddha, if you follow the 4 Noble Truths, you will eventually be able to escape _________________.
reincarnation
Name 4 important contributions of early civilizations in Ancient India.
Medical traditions (treatments and surgery )
Sanskrit Language (writing and literature)
Hindu - Arabic numerals (esp invention of ZERO)
Metallurgy (mixing metals to create weapons, tools, coins, and other metalworks)