Ancient India Study Guide Flashcards
What is a significant similarity between the Indus River and the Nile River?
both, civilizations rely on the river sorce for farming
Why is the land around the Ganges River considered some of the most fertile in the world?
Because it caries silt from the Himalayas and floods the plains
What does the presence of the scale and stone weights in Mohenjodaro suggest about their trading practices?
They had a system of standard weights for trading goods
How did the geography of India contribute to the development of early civilizations in the Indus River valley?
Because the rivers had plenty of water and fertile soil
What is the reason that archaeologists believe the Great Bath at Mohenjodaro may have been used for religious rituals?
Bathing rituals are important in Hinduism
What can the stone statue found in Mohenjodaro tell us about the social structure of the civilization?
It suggest that there were important figures like kings and priests
What mountain range divides India from the rest of Asia?
The Himalayas
Why is India called a subcontinent?
Since it is so big and it was separated from the rest of Asia by the Himalayas
What causes earthquakes and landslides in the Himalayas?
Movement of Tectonic plates
Where were the first known settlements in ancient India?
Indus river valley
Who were the group of nomads that migrated to India bringing Hinduism with them?
Aryans
What does it mean to follow one’s dharma?
To dedicate oneself to one’s duties and obligations
What well-known ancient text tells stories about life in ancient India that offer role models in dharma?
Ramayana
What are the sacred texts of Hinduism called?
The Vedas
What social structure evolved as jatis became more rigid?
The caste system
What is the name of the supreme power, or divine force, that many Hindus understand to be ever-present and all-powerful?
Brahman
What is the Hindu the belief that every action has consequences?
Karma
What do Hindus call the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth?
Samsara
According to Hindu belief, how do people escape the cycle of rebirth?
By following their darma
What happens when a Hindu ends samsara?
They are united with Brahman
Who was the founder of Buddhism?
Siddartha Gautama
What caused Siddhartha to begin his path to becoming the Buddha?
He witnesses suffering in the world
Why did Siddhartha’s father decide to protect his son from all of the horrors of the world?
So that he would become the ruler of the world
What were the THREE forms of suffering Prince Siddartha witnessed outside the palace?
Aging, Sickness, Death
