Vocab
Vedas
the most ancient Hindu scriptures, written in early Sanskrit and containing hymns, philosophy, and guidance on ritual for the priests of Vedic religion
What is a monsoon?
A seasonal wind and rain pattern that brings storms in the summer
Where did Buddhism and Hinduism originate?
India
What is a caste?
The social divisions in ancient India
Why was the Gupta Empire a golden age of India?
It was a time of peace for the empire, there was very little crime which meant that public safety was high, and scholars flourished in that environment
Varna
someone’s ranking in one of four classes in the caste system in India.
What three major rivers were important to Ancient India?
Indus, Brahmaputra, and Ganges
What is karma?
The sum of all your actions, which influences how you will spend your next life
What are the four main castes?
Brahmins, Kshtriyas, Vaishyas, and Sudras
Who was Ashoka the Great? What empire was he a leader of?
Ashoka the Great was a leader of the Mauryan Empire. He is known for converting to Buddhism and spreading it across his empire
dharma
the laws and responsibilities that guide the behavior of each person in each caste
What two mountain ranges are in India?
Hindu Kush Mountains and Himalayas
What are the three most important gods in Hinduism?
Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva
What jobs can each caste get?
Caste 1: Priests
Caste 2: Kings, rulers, warriors
Caste 3: Merchants, craftsmen, landowners, skilled workers
Caste 4: Farm workers, unskilled workers, servants
Why did Ashoka convert to Buddhism?
He witnessed a very violent battle that he had started, and he swore to never let violence like that happen again.
What does Buddha mean?
the name of Siddartha Gautama, meaning “the enlightened one”
What is Mt. Everest?
A mountain in the Himalayas that is the tallest mountain in the world
What are the Four Noble Truths?
Life is suffering
The cause of suffering is desire/craving
The end of suffering comes with an end to desire
There is a path which leads one away from desire and suffering
Who are Dalits?
They were formerly known as Untouchables, they were people that did jobs too dirty or ritually impure for the other castes.
Name three achievements of the ancient Indians
Art, music, dance, decimal point, Vedic mathematics, Sanskrit language, meditation, yoga, and the knowledge of a heliocentric universe
karma
the sum of a person's actions in this and previous states of life, viewed as deciding their fate in future lives
What was the first major civilization in ancient India that started on a river in modern-day Pakistan?
The Indus River Valley Civilization
What is reincarnation? Which religions believe in it?
Reincarnation is when you die and your soul is transferred to another being. Both Buddhists and Hindus believe in reincarnation.
What sort of jobs did Dalits do?
Street sweeping, handling dead bodies, cleaning up dung of animals and people
Why did the Indus River Valley civilization decline?
A possible war after invasions from the Aryans, climate change, earthquakes causing the river to reroute, and a decline in trade.