World History Chapter 9 Test Flashcards

Sanskrit

The first written language of India

Vedas

Ancient sacred writings of India

Guru

A teacher

Monsoons

Seasonal wind, especially in the Indian ocean and southern Asia

Subcontinent

A large landmass that is smaller than a continent

Varnas

The 4 social classes of ancient India

Jati

Small groups that had divided from the varna that are based on the type of work a person did

Brahmins; Kshatriyas; Vaisyas; Sudras

• Brahmins: preiets

• Kshatriyas: warriors who ran the gov. + army

• Vaisyas: were next and were commoners

• Sudras: manual workers/servants who had few rights

Dharma

A person’s personal duty, based on the individual’s place in society

Karma

A force that decides the form that people will be reborn into in their next lives

Reincarnation

The rebirth of the soul

Nirvana

In Buddhism, a state of perfect happiness and peace

Ahimsa

Practicing non-violence towards all living things

Brahman

The universal spirit worshipped by Hindus

Stupa

A Buddhist shrine, usually dome-shaped

Four Noble Truths

Helped people seek spiritual truth

Eightfold Path

Teaches right understanding, right actions, self-control, and meditation

How did the Aryans migrate? (Were they nomads?)

• Bands of Aryans moved throughout India and mixed with the descendants of the Indus Valley people. Would sometimes raid villages for food.

• Were nomads

What is Hinduism’s place among major world religions?

Third largest religion in the world

What are Hinduism’s central beliefs?

• There is one universal spirit called Brahman

• Every living thing has a soul that is part of Brahman

• The body is part of life on Earth

• Death: the soul leaves the body and joins with Brahman

Jainism: what is the importance of ahimsa?

Ahimsa is the key value of Jainism

What is Siddhartha Gautama’s(the Buddha’s) connection to Buddhism?

Siddhartha Gautama created Buddhism

Mauryan Empire and Ashoka: what are his improvements for people and animals?

• Created hospitals

• Built fine roads

Indian mathematics: what is the importance of the symbol zero?

• It affected the study of mathematics and science

• Modern tech. wouldn’t be possible without zero

Which continent is India located on?

Asia

What are the effects of seasonal monsoon winds on India’s climate?

Monsoon winds bring warm, wet air and pouring rains

What is a theory about natural disasters contributing to the decline of Indus Valley cities?

• May have been a severe drought

• May have been earthquakes and floods

Know the Aryan migration map to identify mountain ranges, rovers, and general direction of migration

What are the four varnas and the occupations for each?

• Brahmins: preiets

• Kshatriyas: warriors who ran the gov. + army

• Vaisyas: were next and were commoners

• Sudras: manual workers/servants who had few rights

What is the relationship between dharma, karma, and reincarnation in Hinduism?

Dharma is following moral duties which is jati focused. Your jati is determined by your previous life through reincarnation. Whether you have a good jati or not is based on karma. karma is when actions affect future lives.

Why did the Buddha teach that people suffer and how they can end suffering?

• Buddha felt that people cared about the wrong things which causes suffering

• They can end suffering by seeking spiritual truth

What is the purpose of a Buddhist stupa?

Contains religious objects and is a place of worship

Why was Buddhism appealing?

People wanted a simpler and more spiritual faith

What was the effect of earthquakes and floods?

Changes and decline in some Indus Valley cities

Effect of greed for worldly things?

Suffering (according to the Four Noble Truths)

Effect of following the Eightfold Path?

A way to overcome craving and suffering

Effect of Ashoka’s rule?

Building roads and hospitals for people and animals

Effect of Buddha’s teachings?

Appeal to people from different social classes

What is the difference between Sanskrit and the Vedas?

Sanskrit is an ancient language, while the Vedas are a collection of sacred religious texts written in that language

How do the varna and jati systems describe social groups in ancient India? Explain each reason

• They describe social groups based on that person’s job.

• It shows how social groups were very limited to the type of people they allowed and how divided everyone was