1. GEOGRAPHY
RELIGION
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RELIGION
CIVILIZATIONS
/ KINGDOMS
MISCELLANEOUS
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2. Which controlled more land, the Mauryan, Kushan or Gupta kingdom?

3. The Mauryan Dynasty controlled much more land than the Guptas or the Kushan Kingdom.

4. Along which river were Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro located?

5. Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro were located along the Indus River.

6. What modern day country is the home of the Indus River Valley and where is it on this map?

7. Pakistan is the home of the Indus River Valley and it is in GREEN to the WEST of India.

8. Where did the Aryans originate from?

9. The Aryans began their migration from Central Asia, bringing their Indo-European language with them.

10. Name at least 4 countries that share a border with modern India.

11. India shares a border with Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Burma/Myanmar (but doesn’t actually touch Sri Lanka and has a questionable boundary with Afghanistan).

12. What does samsara means?

13. Samsara is the cycle of rebirth.

14. What is moksha and which religion is it related to?

15. Moksha means the end to the cycle of rebirth, with the soul joining Brahman. It is a Hindu concept.

16. How does the caste system relate to Buddhism? Why?

17. Buddhism rejects the caste system because all souls are seen as being equal.

18. What are the Four Noble Truths?

19. The Four Noble Truths: (1) The world is full of suffering, (2) Suffering is caused by desires, (3) To end the suffering we must give up our desires, (4) And follow the Eightfold Path

20. In the early versions of Hinduism, who was the chief god, and what did he later become the god of?

21. Indra, a warrior god, was the chief god in early Hinduism
Indra, a warrior god, was the chief god in early Hinduism. He later became a god related to the weather.

22. What is the atman?

23. The Atman is the individual’s soul, a piece of Brahman.

24. Where was Siddhartha Gautama born and who were his parents?

25. Siddhartha Gautama was born in Nepal and his parents were the king and queen.

26. Why is the Buddha Dharma called the “Middle Way.”

27. The Buddha Dharma is called the “Middle Way” because Siddhartha Gautama rejected both his life in the palace and his life as an ascetic.

28. What is ahimsa and with which Indian religion is it most closely associated?

29. Ahimsa is the practice of nonviolence, and while it is used by some Hindus and Buddhists, it is most closely associated with Jainism.

30. Who are the three gods of the Hindu trinity and what does each represent?

31. Brahma is the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Siva the destroyer.

32. What religion did Asoka support and what dynasty was he part of?

33. Asoka supported Buddhism and he was part of Mauryan Dynasty.

34. In which modern day country did the Kushan Kingdom originate?

35. The Kushan Kingdom was based in Afghanistan (and stretched down to India eventually).

36. After which invasion did the Mauryan dynasty arise?

37. The Mauryan Dynasty arose after Alexander the Great’s invasion of India.

38. What were the two largest cities of the Indus Valley civilization?

39. The two largest cities of the Indus Valley civilization were Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro.

40. What did India export along the silk road routes?

41. India exported cotton textiles, salt, iron, silver, and gold along the silk road routes.

42. What are the four vedas?

43. They are the four holy books of Hinduism.

44. Who was Aryabhata and what are at least one thing he is famous for?

45. Aryabhata was a mathematician (c. 500 CE) and he calculated pi to 3
Aryabhata was a mathematician (c. 500 CE) and he calculated pi to , calculated the solar year (w/in 3 hours of accurate), wrote about linear equations, series, quadratics, proportions, compound interest, and more.

46. What is the central message of the Bhagavad Gita?

47. The central message of the Bhagavad Gita is that you must follow your dharma even if it goes against your personal wishes.

48. What was the key idea of the Arthasastra?

49. The Arthasastra says that kings must be active and work for the welfare of their people, but to do that, they must use spies, war, etc.

50. What is a monsoon, where do they come from, and when do they come?

51. The Monsoons are winds that sweep across India
The Monsoons are winds that sweep across India. The Summer monsoons bring heavy rains from the southwest, gathering over the Indian Ocean. (The winter monsoons are dry and go from Northeast to Southwest.)