Ancient India Multiple Choice Questions

Social Studies

What major physical feature separates the subcontinent of India from Asia

The Himalayas

Besides separating the subcontinent and Asia, did this feature provide any other benefits?

1. The source of most of south Asia’s rivers

2. Mountains provided protection from invaders

Where is the most fertile farmland in India?

The plains along Ganges River

What physical feature played an important role in where  the first people of India settled?

RIVERS:

1. When the rivers flooded, it would provide rich soil for farming.

2. Water supply

Which of the following were not found in the Ancient City of Mohenjo Daro?

1. Dead Sea Scrolls

2. Sewer systems

3. Great baths

4. Scales & weights

Dead Sea Scrolls

What nomadic people came through the Hindu Kush Mountains /Khyber Pass to invade the Indian subcontinent?

Aryans

What is the collection of sacred Hindu scriptures called?

Vedas

Identify which 3 gods make up the Hindu Trinity

1. Brahma

2. Vishnu

3. Shiva

What are the four main castes?

Brahmins	Priests, scholars, teachers
Kshatriyas	Warriors/ rulers
Vaishyas	Merchants, farmers & Artisans
Shudras	Servants & Laborers

Which group fell outside or below the caste system?

Untouchables / Dalits

Why has there always been such discrimination towards the Untouchables/Dalits?

Their jobs were considered dirty and lowly

The festival of Diwali celebrates

1. Good over evil

2. New years

What do Hindus need to acquire to achieve freedom from the cycle of rebirth?

Good Karma or Moksha

What does Buddha’s name mean?

Awakened or Enlightened One

What is the name of the prince who became the Buddha?

Siddhartha Gautama

The Buddha learned the basic truths for living under which tree?

Bodhi Tree

According to the Four Noble Truths, Buddhists believe that __________________ is caused by __________________

suffering

desire

Who were the first to unite the various kingdoms of India?

Maurya Family

King Ashoka

Why did Ashoka become a vegetarian?

By abiding by Buddhist values (love, peace, and non violence) he respected all living things

What method did Ashoka use to spread his Buddhist values?

He had edicts carved into 

stone pillars and walls

The Guptas were the first to gather these sacred Hindu texts together and record them as a ___________________  collection

written 

(Vedas written in Sanskrit)

What was one of the most important advances in mathematics during the Golden Age of the Gupta Empire?

• The concept of the number 0

• Decimal system

• Year was exactly 365.258 days

• Planets were spheres