Ancient India and China

Question 1

Harrappa

Answer 1

Ancient Indian City

Question 2

Mohenjo Daro

Answer 2

Ancient Indian City, no one knows how it declined

Question 3

Aryans

Answer 3

took over India in 2000 BC

Question 4

Vedas

Answer 4

Ancient Sacred writings of the Aryans

Question 5

Rigveda

Answer 5

Oldest veda that established the caste system

Question 6

Varnas

Answer 6

Levels of the Caste System (Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas, Sudras

Question 7

Ramayana

Answer 7

Hindu epic, a model of the ideal couple Rama and Sita

Question 8

Dharma

Answer 8

Spiritual duties and obligations

Question 9

Karma

Answer 9

sum of a person’s actions

Question 10

Moksha

Answer 10

Liberation from the cycle of reincarnation

Question 11

Samsara

Answer 11

Reincarnation

Question 12

Brahma

Answer 12

the Creator

Question 13

Vishnu

Answer 13

The Preserver

Question 14

Siva

Answer 14

The Destroyer

Question 15

Mahabharata

Answer 15

ancient hindu epic about a war between two families at the Ganges River Valley

Question 16

Gita

Answer 16

Dialogue between the warrior Arjuna and Krishna within the Mahabharata

Question 17

Krishna

Answer 17

Vishnu in Human form

Question 18

Ahisma

Answer 18

Jainist nonviolence

Question 19

Nirvana

Answer 19

Perfect peace attained by holding to the eightfold path

Question 20

Middle Way

Answer 20

Living in moderation, avoiding extremes

Question 21

Theravada

Answer 21

“Way of the Elders” - emphasis on becoming monks and society serving the monks

Question 22

Bodhisattvas

Answer 22

People who have found enlightenment but haven’t passed into nirvana. Seen as mahayana teachers

Question 23

Ashoka

Answer 23

Indian King who helped spread buddhism (200 BC)

Question 24

Zen

Answer 24

Mahayana Buddhism that emphasized self-discipline and meditation

Question 25

Fu Xi

Answer 25

China’s First Emperor

Question 26

Loess

Answer 26

Fine dusty soil in China

Question 27

Shang Dynasty Beliefs

Answer 27

Focused on ancestor worship, using oracle bones

Question 28

Oracle Bones

Answer 28

Priests using animal bones to communicate with deceased ancestors

Question 29

Zhou Dynasty

Answer 29

Introduced the “Mandate of Heaven”

Question 30

Mandate of Heaven

Answer 30

Gods would support a just leader and would not allow a corrupt person to hold power. The Shang was believed to have been overthrown because they lost God’s Favor

Question 31

Dynastic Cycle

Answer 31

Rise and Fall of Dynasties, justified through the Mandate of Heaven

Question 32

Confucius

Answer 32

Tried to make education available to all Children

Question 33

Laozi

Answer 33

Founder of Daoist philosophy written in the Dao De Jing

Question 34

Daoism

Answer 34

Teaches one to retreat from society and discover from the laws of nature. Yin Yang. Ancient “green” religion which has played a role in nature conservation in China.