Early Settlement
Where do all major rivers start in India?
The Himalaya Mountains
What is the name and dharma of the highest jati?
Brahmins were priests
What are the Vedas? Describe them.
They are the sacred texts of Hinduism, written in Sanskrit.
What are two aspects of modern Hinduism?
yoga; meditation; rites of passage (samskaras); festivals; pilgrimages, respect of saints and gurus; profound acceptance of religious diversity
What is Jainism?
Jainism is parallel to Buddhism, but teaches ahimsa, or nonviolence to all life (especially vegetarianism).
Name the three major rivers in India.
The Indus River, Sarasvati River, and Ganges River.
What is the name and dharma of the second highest jati?
Kshatriyas were kings & warriors.
What moral dilemma did Rama go through in the Ramayana?
Rama wants to help the people of his kingdom by ruling them, but his father exiles him to the forest for 14 years. He has to follow his dharma by being obedient to his father.
What are some other deities in Hinduism?
Vishnu, Shiva, and Sarasvati
What are the fundamental ideas of Buddhism?
The Buddha teaches suffering, compassion, and mindfulness.
Where did people originally settle in Ancient India? Why?
Most people settled in the Indus River Valley first because the Indus River & Sarasvati River provided fresh water and fertile soil for farming.
What is the name and dharma of the middle jati?
Vaishyas were merchants, artisans, and farmers.
What were the roles of women in Ancient India?
Ancient India was a patriarchy, so women had little property rights and were not equal in religious rituals. However, they could own personal wealth (jewelry, silver, gold) and Hinduism is the only major religion where God is worshipped in both female and male forms.
Explain the Hindu beliefs about Brahman and other deities.
Brahman is the supreme power and divine principle of being. They believe in other deities, but they are all different faces of Brahman.
What is Ashoka's legacy?
Ashoka is credited with spreading Buddhism to India, Central Asia, China, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia. It is still a major religion there today.
What are two examples of early civilizations in India? What made them remarkable?
The two early civilizations are Harappa & Mohenjo-daro. They were remarkable because they were well-planned grids with advanced engineering.
What is the name and dharma of the second lowest jati?
Sudras were peasants and laborers.
The Caste System is described as a complex, formal, & rigid system. Give evidence to support this claim.
First, you were born into a caste and could never change it. You also had to marry within your own caste.
Explain the Hindu beliefs about reincarnation. Include information about karma and samsara.
Reincarnation (samsara) is the idea that when you die, you are reborn at either higher or lower positions of moral purity. You can only end samsara if you have good karma (do good things) and dharma (do your job) at the highest caste.
What transformation did Ashoka go through?
He started his rule with a military campaign, but had a change of heart during a bloody battle. He converted to Buddhism and devoted his life to promoting nonviolence, family harmony, and tolerance.
How did the weather benefit the people who settled in Ancient India?
The summer monsoons brought water to the region, which helped to leave fertile soil and to irrigate farms.
What is the name and dharma of the lowest jati?
Dalits were untouchables who did unclean work.
What do we know about the origins of Hinduism?
We know that Indic speakers intermarried with the older populations (Tamil speakers). Vedism combined the beliefs of both populations and developed slowly over time into Hinduism.
According to Hindu beliefs, what are the goals of human life?
The goals of human life are kama (love), artha (wealth), and moksha (oneness with god). They achieve this through devotion, meditation, and obedience to moral laws and social duties (dharma).
How did Siddhartha Guatama's life lead him to becoming the Buddha?
Siddhartha Guatama grows up getting everything he wants, but discovers suffering. He tries starving himself of his basic needs, but he did not reach enlightenment. Finally, he balanced the extremes by taking the middle path and found enlightenment.