India Final Exam Flashcards
Study and pass final
What made Mohenjodaro so different from other settlements during that time?
Mohenjodaro was so different from other settlements during that time because they had advanced technology, engineering, and urban planning. They had things like a scale and weights, a very advanced belief system, sewage, and much more.
What are the “Vedas”?
The Vedas are a collection of 4 ancient writings viewed as sacred by many Hindus.
Who were the Aryans?
The Aryans were a group of people who lived thousands of years ago in northern India and Persia. Foreigners from the north are believed to have migrated to India and settled in the Indus Valley and Ganges Plain. The most prominent of these groups spoke Indo-European languages.
Why did Hindus believe that good karma was necessary? What could it lead to?
Karma is the belief that every action has consequence. For Hindus, karma is seen as a law of cause and effect. It is motivation to act well. Hindu teachings show that any living being can acquire good or bad karma, regardless of their birth.They believe that acquiring good karma is what is needed to achieve moksha.
What does the name “Buddha” mean?
Buddhism is based on the teachings of the Buddha. This means “Awakened One.”
Who was Siddhartha Gautama and what did he do?
Siddartha Gautama was the Buddha, but before that, he was a young prince, surrounded by wealth and happiness until he ran away at the age of twenty-nine and discovered the true sufferings in the world.
What did Buddha discover under the Bodhi Tree?
Buddha discovered true happiness, and true enlightenment, also known as nirvana, after he resisted all temptations.
What are some important things the Maurya Family did for all of India?
The Mauryas, including Ashoka, fought wars of conquest to build their empire. They were the first leaders to unite the various kingdoms of India. The Mauryas were the first leaders to unify India. Chandragupta Maurya used his great army of 700,000 soldiers, with 9,000 elephants, to overthrow the rulers of these kingdoms. He conquered these kingdoms and united all of northern India.
What are the “Four Noble Truths”?
The “Four Noble Truths” are the main teachings of Buddhism.
The Four Noble Truths
Suffering is present in all things, and nothing lasts forever.
Suffering is caused by cravings (desires and wants).
The way to end suffering is to give up all cravings.
The way to give up all cravings is to live life according to the Eightfold Path
How did King Ashoka spread Buddhism across all of India?
Rather than rule by war, he chose to create an empire based on Buddhist values. He spread Buddhist beliefs through the rules. Ashoka wanted his people to follow the Buddhist path. He urged them to be respectful, kind, and moral. According to tradition, he sent Mahinda, his son, to Ceylon. Mahinda converted Ceylon’s king to Buddhism, which became the official faith of the kingdom.
The Gupta Empire was advanced at Metal-Working. What metals were they advanced with and what did they make with these metals?
Gupta’s metalworkers excelled with gold and copper. Metalworkers made gold and copper coins. They engraved them with pictures honoring Gupta rulers. The coins often highlighted the rulers’ wealth. The coins also showed their achievements in art, politics, and war.
A change took place in Hinduism while the Gupta Empire was in power. What was it? (Think the “Great Work”)
During the Gupta empire—from about 320 to 550 CE—emperors used Hinduism as a unifying religion and helped popularize it by promoting educational systems that included Hindu teachings; they also gave land to Brahmins. The Gupta emperors helped make Hinduism the most popular religion on the Indian subcontinent
Long-distance trade was vital for growing the Gupta Empire. What achievements were necessary to make trade easier and much faster?
Engineers designed and built a system of roads that helped improve trade and prosperity. Gupta rulers encouraged trade by creating a system of well-built roads. The empire’s roads greatly benefited trade. Busy traders could move easily from city to city within the large empire.
Brainstorm: What might an Archaeologist find as evidence of a “Golden Age”? (See Lesson 18, Sec 4-5)
Perhaps the greatest ancient Indian paintings are those known as the Ajanta cave murals. Some of the Ajanta murals show scenes from the Buddha’s life. Some murals portray stories that reflect Buddhist values, such as love and understanding. Many of the scenes include graceful images of kings, queens, musicians, and dancers. Other scenes show animals and hunters in the forest. These woodland scenes are decorated with flowers, trees, and complex patterns. Gupta artists were skilled painters. Gupta’s sculptures show the human form simply and gracefully. Some sculptures showed scenes from important people’s lives. Many sculptures were created to stand on their foundations. Others were carved into the walls of temples and caves.
How have the Himalaya Mountains protected India?
The Himalayas protect India from the chill icy blasts blowing from the arctic region as well as from the destructive incursions of invaders. The Himalayas further protect India through the origination of great rivers like Sindhu, Ganga, Yamuna, and Brahmaputra perennially fed by melted ice irrespective of the monsoon rains
