Ancient India Flashcards
what mountain range separates india from the rest of asia
Himalayas and Hindu Kush Mountains
Monsoons
dry winter winds, wet summer winds
if you wanted to travel to india which season would you want to travel during?
summer, because the winds blow you towards india
what river was ancient india basses around
Indus
in early ancient india what were 2 major citties?
Harappa and Mohenjo Daro
how were cities setup in india
in a grid pattern
what were some of india’s innovations
indoor plumbing, writing system, standard weights
what are the main reasons that people think india declined?
climate change, or drying of rivers
where did the aryans migrate through
the Khyber Pass into India
Aryan-Dravidian Synthesis
what laid the groundwork for society today. created hinduism
What is Hinduism?
No one specific founder
A collection of beliefs and a way of life
what is the sacred hindu text called?
Vedas
who is hindus main god?
Brumanha (he takes many forms)
karma
good and bad deeds that determine where one’s soul will end up in the next life
Moksha
Ultimate goal of life – enlightenment – a state of ultimate understanding. The end of the life-death cycle
Samsara
Reincarnation – the soul is continually born again and again in an attempt to achieve enlightenment
goal for hinduism
achieve moksha
caste system
unchangable social classes in indian society
Brahmins
priests, educators, administrators
Kshatriyas
warriors, law and order enforcement agencies
Vaishyas
merchants and landed farmers
Sudras
laborers, landless peasants and serfs
Dalits or Untouchables
Below the caste system. were added later
