ANCIENT INDIA STUDY GUIDE

Test Date: February 27, 2017

Section 1: pages 124-129

  1. Define subcontinent (p. 124)A subcontinent is a large landmass that is smaller than a continent.
  2. The highest mountain range in the world is the (p. 124): The Himalaya Mountains
  3. During the monsoon season, how up to how much rain does India receive? Up to 200 inches of rain. Winters in India are warm and dry, because winds blow down from the mountains. (p. 126)
  4. The original civilization that grew out of the IndusRiver Valley was called the Harappan (p. 126)
  5. After the fall of the Harappan civilization, a new group called the Aryans arrived in the Indus Valley (p. 128)
  6. Why were poems and hymns like the Vedas memorized by the Aryan people? (p. 129) The first Aryan settlers did not read or write, so they had to memorize the poems and hymns..

Section 2: pages 130-135

  1. The caste system divided Indian society into groups based on a person’s birth, wealth, or occupation. Page #131
  1. Hinduism is the largest religion in India today. Page #133
  1. According to Hindu teachings, everyone has a soul, or atman. Page #133
  1. The process of rebirth is also known as reincarnation. Page #133
  1. In the traditional view of reincarnation, a person who has died is reborn in a new physical form. Page #133

Section 3: pages 136-141

  1. 1, Why did Siddhartha begin to wonder about the meaning of human life?
  2. He saw how hard people had to work and how much they suffered OR
  3. He saw people grieving for lost loved ones and wondered why there was so much pain in the world.
  4. After finding enlightenment under the Siddhartha was then called the Buddha, or the “Enlightened One “
  5. Followers of the Buddha were the first believers in Buddhism.
  6. The guiding principles of Buddha’s teachings were known as the Four Noble Truths
  7. The Eightfold Path was a middle way between human desires and denying oneself pleasure
  8. Right Speech: Part of the Eightfold Path that preaches to avoid lies and gossip.
  9. Right Livelihood: Reject work that hurts others, such as being a slave owner
  10. Right Effort: Prevent evil and do good.
  11. Buddha believed that everyone who followed the Eightfold Path properly would achieve nirvana.
  12. After one of the most powerful kings in India, Asoka became Buddhist the spread of Buddhism increased.

Section 4: pages 142-146

  1. Asoka was the strongest of all the Mauryan emperors. He eventually converted to BUDDHISM and used resources to IMPROVE THE LIVES OF HIS PEOPLE. After a time, Asoka tired of conquest and swore he would NOT LAUNCH ANY MORE WARS OF CONQUEST. (p. 143)
  1. After the fall of the Mauryan Empire, the GUPTA Empire followed around 320AD. (p. 144)
  1. Although they were Hindus, the Gupta rulers also supported the religious beliefs of BUDDHISM and JAINISM. (p. 144)
  1. The Gupta kings believed the social order of the Hindu CASTE SYSTEM would strengthen their rule. (p. 145)

Section 5: pages 147-151

  1. What is Ajanta? (p. 147) Ajanta is a famous Buddhist temple carved out of a mountainside, filled with beautiful wall paintings and sculpture.
  1. Buddhist temples were called stupas, which were built to house sacred items from the life of Buddha. (p. 148)
  1. Describe Indian paintings and sculptures from the Gupta period. (p. 148) Indian painters drew hundreds of gods on temple walls and entrances. Indian sculptors carved statues of kings and the Buddha.
  1. Why are many of the finest paintings of Ancient India found in temples? (p. 148) The finest artwork was found in temples because artist from both Hinduism and Buddhism drew on their beliefs to create their work.
  1. Two religious epics in Sanskrit are the MAHABHARATA, the RAMAYANA, and the PANCHATANTRA. What was the purpose of these stories? (p. 149) The purpose of religious epics was to teach lessons about how Indians should live.
  1. The Ancient Indians were pioneers in the area of working with metals, or metallurgy.(pg. 150).
  1. The Hindu-Arabic numerals are the numbers we use today. (p. 150)
  1. Name an Ancient Indian skill in medical science (p. 150): inoculation; making medicine from plants and minerals; surgery on injured people
  1. Name and Ancient Indian skill in Astronomy (p. 151): they knew of seven planets in solar system; knew sun was a star, knew planets revolved around sun.

BIG IDEA CONCEPTS YOU SHOULD KNOW

(FOR FREE-RESPONSE QUESTIONS)

  1. The first ancient Indian civilizations settled around the Indus River, which provided water for crops. During the monsoon season, however, the River could flood, causing damage. For these reasons many farmers considered the monsoons both a blessing and a curse.
  1. The Hindu religion believed that each person had a karma, which affected a person’s soul. Depending on whether a person had good or bad karma could determine what caste they would be re-born into.
  1. Buddhism included ideas from Hinduism, such as treating people kindly and living a moral life. Buddhism was different from Hinduism in that the Buddha did not agree with the caste system.
  1. Asoka’s conversion to Buddhism changed his focus from being a warrior to spreading Buddhism throughout India.
  1. Ancient Indians expressed their religious beliefs through the advancements they made in art, architecture,and science. Be prepared to name 1 (one) example of an innovation in Indian art, temple building, or science.