Ashoka
Who was Ashoka?
Ruler of the Maurya Empire from about 269 to 232 B.C.E., expanded the empire’s territory from northern India to include much more land to the south and east.
What is Hinduism?
a religion that developed in India over many centuries; it traces its roots to older traditions, such as Vedic beliefs and Brahmanism
Explain monotheism AND polytheism
monotheism - belief in one god
polytheism - belief in many gods
What is Buddhism?
Religion founded by "the Buddha", which teaches that life brings suffering that one can escape by seeking nirvana through enlightenment.
Category
People of India
In class, what edicts were compared to.
What are billboards?
Explain what reincarnation is
the belief that a person’s soul is reborn into a new body after death
Who were the Aryans?
People from central Asia who migrated into the Indus Valley and the Ganges River Valley.
The Middle Way
What are rules/laws that are not too strict or too loose?
Question
What kind of person (or what group of people) would not be very excited about Hinduism, particularly its beliefs about reincarnation? Explain.
What is an Edict?
A command that is obeyed like a law
The three main Hindu gods.
Who are Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva?
Written language of ancient India.
What is Sanskrit?
"The Buddha's" original name.
Who is Siddhartha Gautama?
Answer
Members of lower castes; mistreated, discriminated against, etc. because of the caste they are born into. No equality between castes
The FOUR goals of edict's during Ashoka's reign.
What are Buddhist Values, General Welfare, Justice, and Security?
The Vedas, were religious texts originally shared in what way?
Oral tradition
Name TWO rivers in India.
What is the Brahmaputra, Ganges, Indus River?
The Buddha means.
What is "the Awakened One"?
Explain how Ashoka changed when he was ruler.
Changed from a conqueror to a peaceful, Buddhist leader who promoted and spread Buddhism to his empire and beyond.
Two of the three main Hindu beliefs AND what they mean.
Dharma – religious and moral obligations
Ahimsa – Belief in nonviolence
Karma – Actions have consequences
The Caste System.
Social structure in Aryan society, tied into the Aryan religion of Hinduism. Broken into castes, or classes, based on social status. Whichever caste you are born into is the one you stay in, no social mobility.
TWO of the Four Noble Truths.
Life is filled with suffering
Suffering is caused by people's wants.
Suffering can be ended if people stop wanting things, like more pleasure or more power.
To stop wanting things, people must follow 8 basic laws, called the Eightfold Path.