Ancient India Chapter 6 Review
What are some characteristics of the cities of Harappa and Mohenjo Daro?
well planned, protected by fortesses, brick streets that crossed at right angles, storehouses, workshops, market stalls, and houses
Why are the Vedas so important to us today?
because so much of what we know about the Aryans, their society and their invasion of India, comes from them
What religious belief did the Gupta rulers follow?
Hinduism
What is Sanskrit?
the most important language of ancient India
From where did the Aryans come?
Central Asia
How was the Aryan civilization different from the Harappan?
The Aryans were more warlike, didn't farm at first, didn't build cities, didn't have a single ruling authority, and didn't have a written language.
What skills and tools did the Aryans have that helped them conquer the Indus Valley?
skill as warriors, chariots, advanced weapons
How did the Aryan and the Harappan government systems differ?
the Aryan system was based mostly on family connections
What are some explanations for why Harappa and Mohenjo Daro were very similar?
possible answers--People from one of the cities founded the other; communication, travel, and/or trade made Harappan civilization fairly uniform throughout the region.
What could happen to someone who broke caste rules?
They could be banned from their homes and their caste, which would make them untouchables.
How did the Harappans use seals?
to stamp goods
Recall what you have learned about Egypt Recall what you have learned about Egypt. How does the Harappans' control of the countryside east and west of the Indus River compare to the Egyptians' control of the Nile Valley?
The Harappan civilization was spread across more of the countryside The Harappan civilization was spread across more of the countryside. Egyptian control was limited to a very narrow band along the NIle.
What were the four varnas?
Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas, and Sudras
What were the two main cities of the Harappan civilization?
Harappa and Mohenjo Daro
What were some rules described in the sutras?
People couldn't marry anyone or eat with anyone from a different class.
How is the geography of the northeastern part of the subcontinent different from the northwestern?
northeastern--mountainous; northwestern--desert
How did the Upanishads differ from other Vedic texts?
The Upanishads were reflections on the Vedas written by religious students and teachers.
What is the shape of the Indian subcontinent?
roughly triangular
Why may Indian farmers consider the monsoons both a blessing and a curse?
possible answer--The monsoon spring rain for watering fields, but also cause destructive floods.
According to Hindu brief, what are the three major forms of Brahman?
Brahma the creator, Siva the destroyer, Vishnu the preserver
What is the Rigveda?
the oldest of the Vedas that contained a collection of hymns of praise to many gods
Why did priests place sacrifices into a fire?
They believed the fire would carry the sacrifice to the gods.
What led to the development of Hinduism?
the blending of the Vedic texts with ideas from Central Asian cultures
What is the relationship between the Vedic texts and the Vedas?
Vedic texts were a collection of thoughts about the Vedas.
What did the Buddha think about the caste system?
He was opposed to it.
Do you think a wealthy Brahmin would want his or her servants to believe in dharma? Why or why not?
Servants would be more likely to accept their fate in life if they believed in dharma.
How may the role of women in traditional Hinduism be connected to the history of Aryan varnas?
possible answer--Warriors, the Kshatriyas, had high status in Aryan society. Because women's contributions were not valued as highly, they had lower status.
How did Jainism differ from Hinduism?
The Jains believed that the Brahmins had too much control, and that there was too much emphasis on rituals.
What are the Four Noble Truths?
1. Suffering and unhappiness are a part of human life. 2 1. Suffering and unhappiness are a part of human life. 2. Suffering comes from our desires for pleasure and material goods. 3. People can over come desire and ignorance and reach nirvana, a state of perfect peace. 4. People can overcome ignorance and desire by following an eightfold path that leads to wisdom, enlightenment, and salvation.
How is -right thought- different from -right action-?
Right thought- refers to beliefs, whereas -right action- has to do worth how we put beliefs and thoughts into action
What did Siddhartha endure before reaching enlightenment?
wandered for several years, didn't wash, fasted, meditated
What is karma?
the effects that good or bad actions have on a person's soul
Who was Siddhartha Gautama?
a prince who became known as the Buddha
Many of the Buddha's teachings reflect the ideas of which other world religion?
Hinduism
How may converting to Jainism affect one's daily life?
Answers should include becoming a vegetarian, respecting all life, and practicing nonviolence
On whose teachings was Jainism based On whose teachings was Jainism based? What would they consider to be the most worthy goal in life?
Mahavira; to never injure or kill another living thing.
Who was Chandragupta Maurya?
a military leader who seized control of northern India in the 320s BC, founding the Mauryan Empire
What are some places to which Buddhism spread?
throughout India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and other parts of Southeast Asia, near the Himalayas, Central Asia, Persia, Syria, Egypt, China, Korea, Japan
What were some operations that Indian surgeons could perform?
fixing broken bones, treating wounds, removing infected tonsils, reconstructing broken noses, reattaching torn earlobes
What is one reason why Buddhism spread so quickly?
Buddha's teachings were popular and easy to understand.
What ended the Gupta rule?
the Hun invasion from the northwest
What were some Indian achievements in astronomy?
knew of seven planets, that the sun was a star and that planets revolved around it, the earth was a rotating sphere; could predict eclipes
What was Chandragupta Maurya's government like?
network of spies, army of 600,000 soldiers along with many elephants and chariots, heavy taxes
Why did the Aryans abandon their nomadic lifestyle?
The Aryans began to farm, so they stayed in one place.
What tells us that the Guptas supported religious beliefs other than their own?
The Guptas built many Buddhist temples.
How did becoming a Buddhist change Asoka's behavior?
He worked to improve his people's lives and spread Buddhism.
Why did the Gupta rulers support the caste system?
They believed it would make the empire more stable.