Society
This was the highest caste in Ancient India, consisting of priests and teachers.
the Brahmins
This religion is one of the oldest in the world and includes beliefs in dharma, karma, and reincarnation.
Hinduism
Ancient Indian mathematicians developed this concept, which became a key part of the number system used today.
the concept of zero
This empire was known for having a strong central government with powerful emperors and a large bureaucracy.
the Maurya Empire
Most people in Ancient India practiced this type of farming, growing just enough food to feed their families.
subsistence farming
People were expected to remain in this social group for their entire lives, based on the family they were born into.
the caste system
He was originally known as Siddhartha Gautama and founded Buddhism after seeking to understand how to end human suffering.
The Buddha
This system of medicine, practiced in Ancient India, focused on balancing the body and mind to maintain health.
Ayurveda
After witnessing the destruction of war, this Mauryan emperor chose to rule peacefully and had laws carved into stone pillars.
Emperor Ashoka
These three crops were commonly grown by farmers in Ancient India.
rice, wheat, and barley
This caste consisted of rulers and warriors who protected the empire.
the Kshatriyas
This is the Buddhist belief that suffering exists and can be overcome, taught through four main principles.
the Four Noble Truths
These are the lessons Ancient India epic poems often taught.
duty, loyalty, and leadership
Unlike the Mauryas, the Gupta Empire gave more power to these people, allowing cities and regions to make some of their own decisions.
the local leaders
Ancient India traded these three main goods with other regions in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
cotton cloth, spices, and precious stones
This caste performed physical labor and served the other castes, making them the lowest in the social hierarchy.
the Shudras
This Hindu belief states that a person's actions affect what happens to them in the future.
karma
This was the period during the Gupta Empire when India experienced peace, prosperity, and great advances in learning, science, and the arts.
the Golden Age
Ashoka had laws carved into stone pillars for this reason, why did this help create order across the empire?
people could understand what was expected of them (or to communicate laws clearly to the public
Farmers settled near these two major rivers because they provided water and fertile soil for growing crops.
The Indus and Ganges Rivers
This is one major problem created by the caste system for people born into lower castes.
limited opportunities (or inability to change social position/social mobility
Buddhism emphasizes this approach to achieve enlightenment, which differs from Hinduism's focus on fulfilling duties.
letting go of desires (or detachment from material things
Ancient Indian doctors made these specific medical advances during the Golden Age that are still used or studied in parts of the world today.
performing surgeries, treating illnesses with herbal medicine, and studying human anatomy (accept any two of these)
This key difference between the Mauryan and Gupta governing styles shows that both strong central control AND local autonomy can be effective ways to rule a large empire.
The Mauryas used a strong bureaucracy and centralized power while the Guptas gave more power to local leaders, yet both systems maintained stability and allowed their empires to succeed
As cities grew, people developed these instead of everyone being farmers, which helped communities function and grow stronger.
specialized skills (or specialized jobs/trades)