Ch 5 - Countries of Central & Southern Asia Flashcards
Name Asia’s three ancient cultures and tell the general area where they were located.
Mesopotamia - the Tigris-Euphrates Valley
India - the Indus Valley
China - the Huang He/Yellow River Valley
Who began the caste system, and why?
The Aryans, to keep the Dravidians and Aryan peoples apart from each other.
What is the caste system?
a strict social plan to keep people apart from each other
Who were the Aryans?
invaders from north India who conquered the Dravidians
Name the four main castes.
Brahmins (priests)
princes and warriors
landowners and merchants
farmers, labourers, and servants
What was an outcaste or “untouchable”?
A person who broke the rules of his caste and was thrown out of his caste.
What is the main religion in India today?
Hinduism
What do Hindus believe about Brahma?
That Brahma is a universal spirit made up of many gods, and that man’s spirit is part of Brahma.
What is reincarnation?
Reincarnation is when someone dies and their soul is reborn into some other newborn man or animal.
What religion was started by a man dissatisfied with Hinduism?
Buddhism
What does Buddha mean?
Englightened One
What word did Buddha use to describe the state of being free of suffering?
Nirvana
What material gets its name from an Indian city, and which city is it named for?
Calico; Calicut
Who first brought India’s cotton goods to Europe?
Alexander the Great
What English company controlled India for a time?
East India Company
