REAL INDIA TEST

What does Hinduism not have?

A founder

What are the two sacred books of Hinduism?

Vedas and Upanishads

Who are the 3 main gods in Hinduism?

Brahman, Vishnu, and Shiva

What does Brahman represent in Hinduism?

The creator and ultimate reality

What does Vishnu do?

Preserves life

What is Shiva known for?

Being the destroyer

What do Hindus stress?

Non-violence and respect for nature

What is reincarnation?

The rebirth of the soul after death

What determines reincarnation?

One's actions in their past life

What is the goal of Hinduism?

To achieve Moksha

What is Moksha?

State of perfect understanding and union with Brahman

What is Karma?

The principle of cause and effect in actions

What is Dharma?

A person's duties and obligations

What is the Caste System?

A strict social class system in Hindu society

What are the 4 main levels of the Caste System?

Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras

Who are the Brahmins?

Priests and scholars

Who are the Kshatriyas?

Warriors and political leaders

Who are the Vaishyas?

Traders and farmers

Who are the Shudras?

Laborers and artisans

What are Untouchables?

The lowest members of society

How is a person's caste decided?

By birth

Who was the founder of Buddhism?

Siddhartha Guatama (Buddha)

What does the name Buddha mean?

The enlightened one

What are the 4 noble truths?

Suffering is universal, desire causes suffering, end suffering by crushing desire, follow the Eightfold Path

What is Buddha's guide to practical conduct?

The Eightfold Path

What do Buddhists strive to achieve?

Nirvana

What is Nirvana?

State of emotional peace and freedom from desire

Where are Buddha's teachings written down?

Tripitaka (Three Baskets of Wisdom)

What was the influence of Sultan Mahmud?

He left a deep-rooted hatred between Hindus and Muslims

What were the Muslim rulers in India called?

Sultans

Where did the Muslims establish their capital?

Delhi

Why did many Hindus never convert to Islam?

Differences in beliefs about God, sacred cattle, and social equality

Who led the first Mongol invasions into India?

Tamerlane

Who founded the Mughal Empire?

Babur

Why was Akbar famous?

He promoted religious tolerance

What famous building was constructed during the Mughal Empire?

Taj Mahal

Who built the Taj Mahal?

Shah Jahan

How did Aurangzeb alienate his people?

By enforcing strict Muslim laws and taxes

Who was the first explorer to reach India?

Vasco Da Gama

Who set up the first trading post in India?

The East India Company

Why was the East India Company important?

It transformed into an imperial superpower

Who were the Sepoys?

Indian soldiers who fought for the British

What were 3 consequences of the revolt against British rule?

Last Mughal emperor exiled, British stopped using Hindu Sepoys, India became a British colony

What is the importance of Alexander the Great in India?

His invasion destabilized northern India

Who was the first person to unite India?

Chandragupta Maurya

Who was the greatest ruler of the Mauryan Empire?

Ashoka

What religion did Ashoka convert the Mauryan Empire to?

Buddhism

What is a major accomplishment of the Mauryan Empire?

Uniting most of India and spreading Buddhism

Who united the kingdoms to form the Gupta Empire?

Chandragupta I

What was the Gupta Empire known as?

The Golden Age of India

What is an advance in Literature during the Gupta Empire?

Poetry and drama

What is an advance in Entertainment during the Gupta Empire?

Games like chess and polo

What is an advance in Science during the Gupta Empire?

Aryabhatta's astronomy and the decimal system

What is an advance in Medicine during the Gupta Empire?

Inoculations and sterilizing tools

What caused the downfall of the Guptas?

Invasions by the Huns and weak rulers

What two religions developed during the early Mauryan period?

Buddhism and Jainism

Why did Ashoka stop fighting wars after Kalinga?

He became a Buddhist and chose to rule in peace

What did Ashoka's pillars contain?

Royal edicts and messages encouraging people to live peacefully and in harmony.

How did trade improve under the Mauryan Empire?

Roads were built, travel was safer, and rest houses and trees were provided, making trade easier and more secure.

Why is the Gupta period called India's 'Golden Age'?

Because there were major advances in art, literature, science, and medicine, and it was a time of cultural growth and success.

What scientist said the Earth was a rotating sphere?

Aryabhatta.

What university was founded during the Gupta period?

Nalanda University.

What happened to India after the Mauryan Empire collapsed?

India broke into many small kingdoms that fought each other for about 500 years before the Gupta Empire formed.

What separates India from the rest of Asia?

Mountains in the north.

How were the Himalaya and Hindu Kush mountains formed?

The Ando-Australian continental plate collided with the Eurasian plate pushing them through the surface.

What are the two ways to get through the mountains?

Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass.

What is India often called and why?

Subcontinent or Bharat because it is a massive, geographically isolated landmass separated from the rest of Asia by the Himalayan mountain range.

What are the 8 nations on the Indian subcontinent?

India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives.

What are the two parts of India?

Indo-Gangetic Plain and Deccan Plateau.

What are the Ghats?

Series of mountain ranges along the edges of India.

What are the three main rivers in India?

Indus River, Ganges River, Brahmaputra River.

What are the two monsoon seasons?

Southwest Monsoon and Northeast Monsoon.

What are the positives of the monsoons?

Provides lifesaving water for agriculture and hydroelectric power, and drought relief.

What are the negatives of the monsoons?

Intense rainfall triggers catastrophic flooding, landslides, disease outbreaks, and economic instability.

Who founded Sikhism?

Guru Nanak.

When was Guru Nanak born?

1469.

Where was Sikhism founded?

Punjab region of South Asia (India/Pakistan).

Who is the most important teacher in Jainism?

Mahavira.

When did Mahavira live?

Around 599-527 BCE.

Why is Mahavira important in Jainism?

He was the 24th and final Tirthankara.

Did Jainism have one clear founder like Sikhism?

No, it developed over time through many teachers.

What two things did both Sikhism and Jainism reject from Hinduism?

The Vedas and the caste system.

What are the Vedas?

The main scriptures of Hinduism.

What does Sikhism believe about God?

There is one God.

What does Jainism believe about God?

There is no creator god in the traditional sense.

What does Jainism believe about living things?

All living things have souls.

What is the most important principle in Jainism?

Ahimsa (nonviolence).

What does ahimsa mean?

Nonviolence and avoiding harm to all living things.

Why do some Jains wear cloth masks?

To avoid accidentally inhaling insects.

Why do some Jains avoid root vegetables?

Because harvesting them can harm tiny organisms in the soil.

What is karma in Jainism?

Actions affect the soul and future lives.

What is moksha in Jainism?

Liberation from the cycle of rebirth.

What is asceticism in Jainism?

Self-discipline and simple living to avoid worldly attachments.

What are the key beliefs of Sikhism?

Equality, service, honest living, and remembering God.

What does seva mean in Sikhism?

Service to others.

What does Sikhism teach about equality?

All people are equal regardless of religion, caste, or gender.

What is the holy book of Sikhism?

Guru Granth Sahib.

Who made the Guru Granth Sahib the eternal guide of Sikhism?

Guru Gobind Singh.

Who was Guru Gobind Singh?

The tenth and final human guru of Sikhism.

What is a gurdwara?

A Sikh place of worship.