Test 2 Flashcards
Date Aryans became established in india
1500 BCE
When did civilizations appear
3102 BCE
Death of the Buddha
480 BCE
When was the Mahabharata and Ramayana written
100 BCE
When was the Reign of Ashoka
269-232 BCE
Drividian:
one variety of people
India’s earliest civilizations archeological sites
lots of small lots(1,000+)
Why did early civilization have a decline
already on hard times or natural phenomena(rain, social decay, floods, earthquakes, epidemic)
2 major early indian cities
Harappa in the punjab and the Mohenjo Daro
where were Aryans from og
indus river valley
Major theory that was disputed about early india’s decline
destroyed by aryan: no the aryans did not arrive until 4 centuries after
what were the changes in technology after the aryans came to india
rion(iron plow), irrigation, chariots + stirrup, kings, epics]
Define: Aryans
northern pastoralist (nomads)
Define Raja
leader of aryan group (chieftain: princes)
Maharaja
chieftains turning into kings
dharma
set of behavioral laws based on your gender, social status, job, (all people)
When did Manu start his reign
3102 BCE
Languages used in early india
Sanskrit, prakrit
Kshatriya
warrior class
WHat is the sermon of Mahabharata
Bhagavad Gita forms part of Hindu epic Mahabharata
Harappa and Mohenjo Daro traits
a) mud brick villages
b) grid street plan
c) thick walls for a border
d) non centralized monarchy
- trade w/ sumer -> cotton
manu story:
fish warned him about flood, built ark, first historical story of india (3201) marks beginning of written history in region
Caste and Class:
hierarchal division of society in which each individual was placed (defined by occupation and status within broader community)
aryans
colorist, classist, lightskin-> implied high status
Varna
literal meaning: color
set of social classifications that determined ones occupation and status in society as well as hope of salvation
Brahmins
priestly class
Brahma
supreme god in region
Vaisya:
commoners, merchant class, twice born: men at puberty initiated
Sudras:
bulk of indian population:
-not considered fully aryan
- indigenous people
-manual labor
Outcasts
pariahs, slaves, untouchables, even after slavery was abolished they were given degrading tasks, war criminals, ethnic minorities
Class divisions were _________
absolute
The Jati:
extended families that originated in india and still exist
identified with a varna
Daily life:
centered around family -> linked religiously,. oldest male possessed legal authority, women were inferior: little utility, child marriage, sexulaized in powerful way, always considered a minor, could not study. Women were however given respect because of the manu
Sati:
husband dies you die too (you throw yourself into his grave)
Caste system: (list and what)
1) brahmins
2) Kshatriya
3) vaishya
4) sudras
5) outcastes and pariahs
Who is Purusha Sukta
the cosmic man, Wrote Rig Veda, born both inside and outside the world, 4 principles of hinduism
What are the 4 principles of hinduism
kama, the pursuit of pleasure; artha, the pursuit of material success; dharma, leading a just and good life; and moksha, enlightenment,
What did the purusha hold inside himself? how many parts did he assign to his form and what did the caste systems have to do with it?
The moon, sun, sky, earth, the regions,!!! Indra:king of gods, Agni: Guardian of sacrifice, Vayu: breath/wind/messenger
13 parts
Mouth: brahmins to spread the words and teach
arms: kshatriya to fight
thighs: Vaisya to work (manual labor
feet:sudra dirtiest more grueling work but necessary to survive
Why is there only one place in the whole Rigveda that mentions castes?
Historians think the brahmins put it in there to justify being at the top of the pyramid.
What are the Vedas?
Sacred texts, knowledge, 1500 BCE, oldest world religion, Set of 4 collections: Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda.
Ascetism:
Practice of self mutilation/harm to receive epiphany or magic. Evolved into yoga
Reincarnation:
reborn in a different form after death
Final destination:
union w/ the great world soul, Brahma
Karma:
actions
Dharma:
law regulating human behavior ->different for everyone
Brahman were expected not to ________
eat meat because it interrupts dharma
Who are the 3 great gods and what are they called?
Brahma: the creator
Vishnu: the preserver
Shriva: the destroyer
Trimurti
Atman:
individual soul
Mahburhata:
800 BCE-300 BCE
epic comprising of hindu mythology
Purusartha
objective of men four proper goals or aims of a human life:
Dharma (righteousness, moral values), Artha (prosperity, economic values), Kama (pleasure, love, psychological values) and Moksha (liberation, spiritual values, self-actualization).
artha:
attitude and capability to remain living. to do well to thrive in your dharma
kama:
emotional fulfillment and pleasure in life
Moksha:
release into ultimate goal
Lord Krishnas arguments convincing arjuna he should lead his troops into battle against his teacher, family, and friends
1) Ataman: your not gonna kill them, they are already destined to die
2) it is your dharma you will bring shame and if you dont you will gain evil
3) Its the gods doing if your arrow strikes not yours
Who is ganesha?
Son of Shiva and Parvati, elephant head
What is the Ramayana?
WHo are the characters and what do they do in the story how do they connect to the odyssey?
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic which follows Prince Rama’s quest to rescue his beloved wife Sita from the clutches of Ravana with the help of an army of monkeys. Sita is left to live alone because she lived in another man’s home and when she was put to the test she tried to kill herself to prove her love but was saved by the fire god and Sita and rama ar reunited.
What was the new doctrine after Brahmanism?
Buddhism
Who was the founder of Buddhism?
Siddhartha Gautama (only depicted in art in symbols)
Siddhartha’s early life and how it affected his journey
to buddhism. (4 journeys)
Part of kshatriya
1) At age 29 on 4 different journeys he discovered illness, old age, death and asceticism.
2) he abandoned his home
3) tried to follow asceticism but it did not grant him greater understanding (he meditated under a bodhi tree)
4) Found middle ground
Nirvana:
extinction of selfhood and a reunion with the greater world soul. achieved in life. a dreamless sleep. Enlightenment
What are the 4 Nobel truths:
1) Life= suffering
2) suffering is caused by desire
3) end desire= end suffering
4) to end desire avoid extremes: materialism and ascetism
follow the middle path: (eightfold path)
Right to… knowledge, purpose, speech, conduct, occupation, effort, awareness, meditation
What is a Buddhist teacher called who has teacher nirvana?
Boddhisattva
What does a lotus signify?
And what symbol that correlates to lotus?
what does that symbol mean?
it emerges from mid everyday to be clean and beautiful. Purity
Mandela: symbol of universe in ideal form for mediation
Differences + Similarities of Brahmanism to Buddhism
Differences:
-no individual soul
-rejection of divided humanity based on class systems
- castes, creator, atman, deities
-rejects violence
Similarities:
-karma
-reincarnation
-adhesma, chastity, ascetics
What is the eightfold path?
all begin with the word “right”:
Right to… knowledge, purpose, speech, conduct, occupation, effort, awareness, meditation
What is Jainism?
the path to enlightenment through nonviolence.
Who is the Mahavira?
Nataputta Vardhamana
When was Jainism created?
599 BCE
What are the Mahavira’s teachings?
5 vows:
ex: Ahimsa=nonviolence
WHo created jainism? What was his caste? What lifestyle did he adapt?
Nataputta Vardhamana
kshatriya
ascetism
What does jainism maintain from brahmanism?
samsara and karma
Samsara:
cycle of reincarnation
rejects (these principles of brahmanism)
castes, creater, violence
Who is ashoka:
and what was he like as king
Grandson of Chandragupta Maurya. Considered the greatest ruler in the history of India.
Started reign as a pillaging, conquering killer but realized the error of his ways and converted to buddhism
What were the reasons for India’s Failures?
-decline in regional trade
-tribal rivalries
-glorified warfare
A) “The rule of the fishes”
What were the 3 religious structures of buddhism? describe them…
How were they embellished and what did there art forms represent?
Pillars, Stupas, Rock Chamber
embellished with sense of nature and vitality of life
Expresses other worldly delights
Examples of India’s Scientific advancements:
- Amassed great amounts of info on mathematics especially physics
- quality textiles
