Ancient India Flashcards
Arjuna and Krishna
Characters in the Mahabharata (guy who had to fight his brother in war
Baghavad-gita
Most important chapter of the mahabarattah
Harappa
Most likely the first city in India. Very important city because the people who built it were very organized with the cities grid like format. They had a writing system that is still undiscovered. It is hard to find artifacts because they are under the water level. Like Mohenjo-Daro, most homes had private bathrooms, showers, and wells. There is some evidence of social distinctions with the levels of homes (one story, two story, etc.). Evidence of trade with Mesopotamia because of goods. Artifacts prove that they produced art and had good metallurgy skills
Ganges and Indus rivers
- Indus river is where the Harappa and Mohenjo Daro civilizations where built. Indus river had good soil but was unpredictable when it flooded. People of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro relied on seasonal monsoons to water their land. Dravidians lived in Indus river civilizations. Ganges river was more east, by the Himalayas. The river was occupied by Aryans. The river has more of a religious value and this is where the Hindu people bathe and throw ashes.
Mohenjo-daro
Almost identical to Harappa besides the large swimming pool found in the middle of the community, most likely used for religious ceremonies. For both communities there was most likely a unified government because of the well thought out layout of both cities. Both cities are located in present day Pakistan. Both cultivated crops and had granaries. The decline is unknown but one theory is that nature led to their decline
Deccan plaatue
This is the most fertile and populated part of India. Some think that people of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro migrated here after their decline
Aryans
Group of Indo-European migrants who came from modern day Russia(origin) to Iran. Once they got to India they decided to permanently settle there and they now still remain there. Some people believe they were the first people to bring horses into India and use them with chariots. They spread variations of their language to India and other places that they spread. At first they consumed dairy and meat products
Caste system
caste system. Later on the system got stricter. They came to a place where Dravidians were, and they made a caste system. Varna was the name of each social class and it translates to the word color. The first class was priest called Brahmins. Next was warriors called Kshatriyas. Third was Vaishya which were merchants. Last was the sudras which were labors. The untouchables were outcast and were not even on the caste system. They got the dirtiest jobs such as moving bodies, cleaning out sewer system and taking garbage
Sanskrit
another form of writing into India
Vedas
hey also brought stories. The Vedas was a very important holy text for Hindus
Rig-veda
Most important text!!
Upanishad
The Upanishads was also another important text which was a conversation between a student and a teacher. When they came in the diffused with Dravidians and people believed this is when Hinduism formed and the social distinctions started
Chandragupta maurya
Chandragupta Maurya- He killed the King to get the throne and unified India for the first time ever. He ran his government through a system of spies who spied on people throughout towns and reported back to him with information. He was a paranoid ruler who always thought someone was going to assassinate him like he did to the previous King and this is why he had spies. He voluntarily gave up his throne and went to Jainism(religion), where he starved to death.
Arthastrathsa
Kautalya wrote this and was hired by Chandragupta Maurya. This was a harsh political philosophy on how to run a government. It was a guide to look at on what to do when ruling.
Asoka
Chandragupta Mauryas grandson and when he ruled it was a high point in empire
