03 Ancient Indian Civilization Flashcards
monsoon
a seasonal prevailing wind in the region of South and Southeast Asia, blowing from the southwest between May and September and bringing rain (the wet monsoon), or from the northeast between October and April (the dry monsoon)
citadel
a fortress, typically on high ground, protecting or dominating a city
When did the Indus Valley civilization arise?
circa 2500 BC
Sanskrit
the Indo-Aryan language
polygyny
marriage to more than one wife
polyandry
marriage to more than one husband
three northern mountain ranges of the Indian subcontinent
from west to east: Hindu Kush, Karakoram, Himalayas
Brahmins
priests in the Vedic religion
polygamy
marriage to more than one person
Vedas
the most ancient Hindu scriptures, written in early Sanskrit and containing hymns, philosophy, and guidance on ritual for the priests of Vedic religion
Vindhya Mountains
mountain range that separates northern and southern India
raja
a prince or king who ruled an Indo-Aryan city-state
suttee
ritual suicide of a widow by throwing herself on top of her husband’s flaming funeral pyre
Khyber Pass
a pass through the Hindu Kush; used by migrating or invading tribes
stupa
hemispherical (dome-shaped) shrine that held artifacts and objects associated with Buddha
Ganges River
flows southeast from the Himalayas through an immensely fertile valley
Indus River
flows southwest from the northern mountains through drier lands
Bay of Bengal
body of water off the eastern coast of India
Arabian Sea
body of water off the western coast of India
Indian Ocean
body of water to the south of India
famous twin cities of the Indus Valley civilization
Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa
Indo-Gangetic Plain
The three main geographic regions of India are the northern mountains, the _____, and the Deccan.
Hindu Kush
The three mountain ranges in northern India are the Himalaya, the Karakoram, and the _____.
three-quarters
In most of India, about _____ of the entire year’s rainfall comes between mid-June and early October.
Harappan
Scholars call the earliest Indus Valley civilization the _____ civilization.
bricks
Many Harappan dwellings were constructed of _____ that were baked in kilns.
earthquakes
Three possible scenarios advanced by scholars to explain the fall of the Harappan civilization are: invading conquerors, devastating floods, or _____.
herding
The primary Indo-Aryan occupation was _____.
wheat and barley
The principal crops of the Indo-Gangetic Plain were _____.
by word of mouth
The Vedas were passed on from generation to generation _____.
sacrifices
The Vedic religion valued the function of ritual _____ in hope of obtaining good health, long life, or wealth.
The One
The Vedic religion, full of references to many gods, had one chief god, “_____”.
Upanishads
complex philosophical explanations of the Vedic religion
epics
long poems describing heroes and great events
Mahabharata
one of the two great Sanskrit epics that describes the civil war waged between the five Pandava brothers and their 100 stepbrothers
Ramayana
one of the two great Sanskrit epics that tells the story of two royal heroic figures, Rama and his wife Sita
Bhagavad Gita
the last 18 chapters of the Mahabharata; stresses the idea that conducting oneself properly according to one’s status in life marks the highest fulfillment in life
caste system
form of social organization based on varnas, or fixed social classes
monism
the belief that God and human beings are one
maya
the belief that the world known to our senses is merely an illusion
reincarnation
the rebirth of the soul
dharma
virtue, righteousness, and duty, especially social and caste duty in accord with the cosmic order
karma
positive or negative force generated by a person’s actions, which will determine their status in the next life
yoga
a physical and mental discipline designed to harmonize body with soul
nirvana
the perfect peace that releases the soul from the endless cycle of reincarnation (Buddhism)
moksha
release from the cycle of rebirth impelled by the law of karma (Hinduism)
Siddhartha Gautama
founder of Buddhism who became known as the Buddha, or “the Enlightened One”
Chandragupta Maurya
the powerful young adventurer that established the Mauryan Empire
Asoka
one of the greatest rulers of the Mauryan Empire; conquered almost all of India and urged religious toleration
Samudragupta
he set his triumphs and his boasts of victory on Asoka’s pillars, next to Asoka’s regrets and repentance
Kumaragupta
son and successor of Chandragupta II; brought the empire to its peak
Skandagupta
After the death of _____, invaders gained control of northern India.
Pataliputra
the Gupta capital city
Darius
The Persian ruler _____ conquered part of India in the 500s BC.
Buddhist (Asoka)
Asoka became so sickened by the slaughter of battle that he renounced war and became a devout _____.
stone pillars
Asoka set up _____ inscribed with his laws throughout the empire.
intermarriage
The Guptas expanded their power greatly through _____ and conquest.
Hinduism (Guptas)
Though the Guptas continued to support Buddhism, they favored _____, which became the dominant religion of India.
golden age
India during the reign of the Guptas has been called a _____ because of the brilliant civilization that flourished at the time.
Ajanta
The paintings in the caves at _____ are a valuable source of information about daily life during the Gupta period.
Indo-Aryans
people who developed a caste system
Susruta
Indian doctor who practiced strict cleanliness and disinfected wounds
Aryabhata
Indian mathematician who computed the value of pi (π)
Chandragupta I
built a small empire centered on the Ganges River
Chandragupta II
society and the arts prospered during his reign
Panchatantra
“Five Books”, a series of fables from the Gupta period
