Study Guide: Ancient India Flashcards
Hinduism
A major religion of India, they believed in many gods and goddesses
Ganesha
Is one of the most beloved and worshiped gods in Hindu religion, has the head of an elephant
Sanskrit
Sanskirt is the writing of the ancient Indian people.
Rajas
A prince from ancient India: they fought each other for land and goods.
Aryans
Around 1500 B.C., these people settled in India.
Caste
The way that people were organized into levels of society.
Caste System
Each person was born into a certain into a certain level according to their family’s wealth and status.
Varnas
The four major classes in the caste system.
Brahmins
Indian priests: the top level in the caste system.
Kshatriyas
The warrior level of the caste system.
Vaisyas
The commoner class of the caste system
*Merchants and farmers.
Sudras
The largest group in the caste system: the peasants
Untouchables
The very lowest level in Indian society who were treated very poorly.
Reincarnation
The belief that a person’s soul is reborn in a different form after death.
Monsoon
The season winds in India’s climate that brings A TON of rain every season.
Karma
The idea that a person’s actions determine what their next life will be when they are reborn.
Dharma
Divine law that requires people to do their duty. More is expected of the higher caste members.
Buddhism
A religion started by Prince Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha); started AFTER Hinduism.
Nirvana
The idea of achieving wisdom and being and PEACE inside.
Rank the main groups of the caste system in order of importance (with 1 being the highest and 4 being the lowest): Brahmins, Sudras, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas.
1.
2.
3.
4
Rank the main groups of the caste system in order of importance (with 1 being the highest and 4 being the lowest): Brahmins, Sudras, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas.
- Brahmins
- Kshatriyas
- Vaisyas
- Sudras
The belief in many gods
Polytheism
The duties and laws of each caste that are to be followed
Dharma
People who did not belong to a caste and were outcasts of society
Untouchables
Ancient India’s most influential language
Sanskrit
Seasonal wind patterns that cause wet and dry seasons
Monsoons
A large landmass smaller than a continent
Subcontinent
The effects that good or bad actions have on a person’s soul
Karma
The belief that the soul, once a person dies, is reborn again
Reincarnation
A division of Indian society into groups that are ranked and based on a person’s birth, wealth or occupation.
Caste System
A young prince called the “Enlighted One” that started Buddhism, also known as “The Buddha”
Siddhartha Gautama
Religion based on the teachings of Buddha
Buddhism
A state of perfect peace
Nirvana
How were monsoons a blessing and curse to farmers in Ancient India?
They were a blessing because they brought water to the crops, but they were a curse because they cause flooding, too.
The ancient cities of _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and Mohenjo-Daro were very advanced civilizations in ancient times that developed near the Inus River Valley. Each city was well-planned and built in the shadow of a fortress that could easily oversee the city streets. Most houses had indoor ____________ to get rid of waste.
The ancient cities of HARAPPA and Mohenjo-Daro were very advanced civilizations in ancient times that developed near the Inus River Valley. Each city was well-planned and built in the shadow of a fortress that could easily oversee the city streets. Most houses had indoor PLUMBING to get rid of waste.
The group of people known as the ___________ invented the iron plow to help with farming
The group of people known as the ARAPA invented the iron plow to help with farming
The Four N______ Truths were the guiding principles of Buddha’s teachings
The Four NOBLE Truths were the guiding principles of Buddha’s teachings.
The wealthy Indian prince known for starting Buddhism is Siddhartha _______________
The wealthy Indian prince known for starting Buddhism is Siddhartha GAUTAMA
The mountain range known as the H_________________ are located in India and have the highest peak called Mt. ___________
The mountain range known as the HINDALAYAS are located in India and have the highest peak called Mt. EVEREST
Which group in the caste system included priests and religious leaders?
Brahmins
Which group of people were known as outcasts and did not belong to a caste?
Untouchables
Which caste did the military leaders and warriors belong to?
Kshatriya
How do you answer a DBQ? (Document Based Questions?)
You will need to restate the questions and answer in complete sentences for full credit.
Steps: RRA (RAR) Ra
-Read the article carefully
-Restate the questions
-Answer in complete sentences
In Ancient India, why was it important to belong to a caste? Explain your answer.
Remember: RA
Possible answer:
In Ancient India, it was important to belong to a caste because…
-jobs
-wealthy
-untouchables
In Ancient India, it was important to belong to a caste because the job you have depends on what you are in the caste system. Sometimes, you are a peasant, and it is unfair.
In Ancient India, it was important to belong to a caste because it depends on what dharmas you have.
In Ancient India, it was important to belong to a caste because, without them, nobody would want to do any work and they would not do it because your caste system depends on what dharma/job you get assigned to.
The ______________ were known as the guiding principles of Buddha’s teachings:
The FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS were known as the guiding principles of Buddha’s teachings:
What was known as the “Book Of Knowledge”?
Vedas
What mountain range is located near the Ganges River?
Himalayas
This world religion has a belief in many gods and goddesses
Hinduism
A large landmass smaller than a continent
Subcontinent
Mohenjo Daro and Harappa were both ancient cities located in:
India
Where did the Harappa civilization develop and settle in Ancient India?
Indus River Valley
Who was considered to be the highest-ranked Aryan social class of the caste system?
Brahmins
People who did not belong to a caste and were shunned from society
Untouchables
Seasonal wind patterns that cause wet and dry seasons
Monsoons
The duties and laws of each caste that are to be followed
Dharma
This class consisted mostly of farmers and merchants
Vaisyas
The belief that the soul, once a person dies, is reborn into another person
Reincarnation
A state of perfect peace
Nirvana
A religion based on the teachings of Buddha
Buddhism
Reincarnation is known as the process of
Rebirth
The effects that good or bad actions have on a person’s soul
Karma
Ancient India’s most influential language
Sanskrit
A young prince called the “Enlightened One”
Siddhartha Gautama
The warriors and military leaders of Ancient India were part of the second rank of the caste system known as _________
Kshatriyas
When was Siddhartha Gautama born?
Prince Gautama (Buddha) was born about 553 BCE.
Who did Siddhartha Gautama meet? What did that person influence?
Siddhartha Gautama met a monk. He was amazed that this monk could find calm and peace in a world filled with such suffering. That day he made a very difficult decision. He decided to leave his wealth, his comfort, his wife, and his newborn son, to become a monk.
Where did Siddhartha Gautama live for six years of his life? What did he learn/realize?
For six years Prince Gautama traveled throughout India. But the answers he found were not enough. One day, while sitting under a fig tree, an understanding came to him.
What are the Four Noble Truths?
Life is filled with suffering
- Suffering is caused by people’s wants.
- Suffering can be ended if people stop wanting things, like more pleasure or more power.
- To stop wanting things, people must follow 8 basic laws, called the Eightfold Path.
- To stop wanting things, people must follow 8 basic laws, called the Eightfold Path.
What are the 8 basic laws in the Eightfold Path?
To know the truth
To intend to resist evil
To not say anything to hurt others
To respect life, property, and morality
To work at a job that does not injure others
To try to free one’s mind from evil
To be in control of one’s feelings and thoughts
To practice appropriate forms of concentration
What are proverbs?
Buddhists everywhere live by Buddha’s teachings, which were written down as proverbs. Here are two of Buddha’s proverbs, from an ancient Buddha text, written in about 100 BCE (Over 2000 years ago!)
As a solid rock is not shaken by the wind, even so, the wise are not ruffled by praise or blame.
Hatreds never cease by hatred in this world; by love alone they cease.
This is an ancient law.
What was the Eightfold path designed for?
The Middle Way:
The Eightfold Path was designed to guide people without making life too strict or too easy. The Middle Way is the name Buddhists call lives guided by the laws of the Eightfold Path.
Buddha spent the rest of his life traveling around India and sharing his message with everyone. He had many followers, who lived according to his Four Noble Truths. Some of his followers became Buddhist monks. They gave up all they owned and depended on other followers and kind-hearted people to give them food. Their message was one of love.
After the Buddha’s death in 483 BCE, Buddhism spread rapidly throughout Southern and Eastern Asia.
Is Buddhism a major world religion?
Today, Buddhism is a major world religion. There are over 300 million Buddhists in the world.
