Indosphere

What regions are encompassed by the Indosphere?

India and Southeast Asia.

What are some notable geographic features of India?

Himalayan Mountains, Indus River Valley, Thar Desert, Ganges River, Deccan Plateau.

What group settled in the Indus and Ganges rivers after the fall of the Harappans?

The Indo-Aryans.

What is the significance of the Vedas in Hinduism?

The Vedas are a collection of scriptures that form the foundation of Hinduism.

In what language were the Vedas written?

Sanskrit.

What are the key beliefs of Hinduism?

Karma, Reincarnation, Cyclical Time, and Yoga.

What does Karma mean in Hinduism?

Every action has a consequence.

What is the concept of Reincarnation in Hinduism?

The cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, with new life based on Karma.

What is Cyclical Time in Hinduism?

Each cycle, known as a kalpa, is a cosmic day and night for Brahma and spans billions of years.

What is the purpose of Yoga in Hinduism?

To help individuals achieve spiritual enlightenment.

How is Hinduism characterized in terms of monotheism and polytheism?

Hinduism is neither strictly monotheistic nor polytheistic; different gods are seen as different faces of the same figure.

What role does personal practice play in Hinduism?

It takes precedence over organized gatherings, with many Hindus engaging in personal worship at home.

What was the impact of Alexander the Great on India?

He swiftly conquered the divided Indian Kingdoms in the Indus River Valley.

What was the Mauryan Empire?

A powerful Hindu Empire that unified India after Alexander's death.

What dynasty replaced the Mauryan Empire?

The Gupta Dynasty.

What is the Caste System in Hinduism?

A class hierarchy institutionalized by the Maurya Dynasty, justified by Hindu teachings.

How does the Caste System affect reincarnation in Hinduism?

Moral actions in one's current life dictate the caste into which one will be reincarnated.

What cultural achievements define the Golden Age of Classical India?

Myths, art, architecture, and literature, including the Mahabharata and The Ramayana.

What are the Mahabharata and The Ramayana?

Ancient Vedic Epics compiled during India's Classical period, totaling over 2.4 million words.

What architectural features are common in Classical Indian temples?

Intricate wall engravings and tall, blocky architecture.

What led to the fracturing of the Maurya and Gupta Dynasties?

Weak emperors and nomadic raids.

What is the cultural legacy of the Caste System in modern India?

Although legally abolished, cultural practices related to it, such as social interactions, persist.

What significant event unified India in 1947?

British independence.

What are the two main cultural divisions of India?

Indo-Aryan in the North and Dravidian in the South.

What geographical feature separates North and South India?

The high, difficult terrain of the Deccan Plateau.

What was the impact of the collapse of Classical India on cultural divisions?

It led to a cultural split between North and South India.

What characterized North Indian culture?

It is known as Indo-Aryan and is centered around the Ganges River.

What characterized South Indian culture?

It is known as Dravidian and is relatively mercantile and conservative.

What happened to India after the fall of the Mauryan and Gupta empires?

India became fractured into competing medieval kingdoms.

What type of rulers dominated North India during the medieval period?

Divided clans established by warrior castes.

What type of political structure dominated South India during the medieval period?

Maritime empires and trade-based city-states.

What role did elephants play in Indian society?

They were used in warfare, torture, and executions.

Who was Siddhartha Gautama?

He was the prophet known as Buddha, the first to reach enlightenment.

What is the primary goal of Buddhism according to Siddhartha Gautama?

To escape the cycle of suffering and achieve Nirvana through meditation.

How did Buddhism differentiate itself from Hinduism?

By discouraging the Caste System.

Who was Ashoka the Great and what was his significance?

A Mauryan Emperor notable for converting to Buddhism and spreading it.

What is the Indosphere?

The sphere of Indian cultural influence, particularly Buddhism and Hinduism, across Southeast Asia.

What are the two parts of Southeast Asia?

Continental Southeast Asia and Maritime Southeast Asia.

What is the nature of Buddhism as a religion?

It is a universalizing religion that anyone can practice.

What are the two main sects of Buddhism?

Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism.

What is the focus of Theravada Buddhism?

It stays true to Gautama's teachings and primarily spread to the Indosphere.

What distinguishes Mahayana Buddhism from Theravada?

Mahayana Buddhism is more culturally Chinese and focuses on helping others rather than solely achieving Nirvana.

How did Hinduism spread in Southeast Asia?

Through the adoption of Hindu fashion and architecture by new Hindu kings.

What role did the Caste System play in the spread of Hinduism?

It allowed tribal leaders to establish kingdoms based on the Caste System.

What was the significance of the Malacca Strait during the Srivijaya Empire?

It was a crucial trade route that Srivijaya controlled and taxed.

What is the time period of the classic Angkor Civilization?

Roughly between 800 to 1300 A.D.

What modern countries did the Angkor Civilization encompass?

Cambodia, southeastern Thailand, and northern Vietnam.

What is Angkor Wat?

One of the most spectacular temples in the world, located in the Angkor region.

Where did the ancestors of the Angkor civilization migrate from?

They migrated along the Mekong River.

What significant agricultural feature supported the spread of the Angkor civilization?

An extensive and sophisticated irrigation system.

What two belief systems influenced Khmer society during the classic period?

Hinduism and High Buddhism.

How was Khmer society structured?

It included religious and secular nobles, artisans, fishermen, rice farmers, soldiers, and elephant keepers.

What role did elephants play in Angkor society?

They were used by the army for protection.

What types of commodities were traded between Khmer cities and China?

Rare woods, elephant tusks, spices, wax, gold, silver, and silk.

What evidence shows the Khmer's trade connections with China?

Tang Dynasty porcelain and Song Dynasty whitewares found at Angkor.

How did the Khmer document their religious and political beliefs?

Inscriptions in Sanskrit on stelae and temple walls.

What military resources did the Khmer use according to bas-reliefs?

Elephants, horses, chariots, and war canoes.

What factors contributed to the decline of Angkor in the mid-14th century?

A shift in religious beliefs and possible environmental collapse.

How were the roads in the Khmer empire constructed?

They were made of earth piled from either side, creating long, flat strips.

What was the total length of the main roads extending from Angkor?

Approximately 1,000 kilometers (620 miles).

What was the width of the road surfaces in the Khmer empire?

Up to 10 meters (approximately 33 feet) wide.

What recent project mapped the city of Angkor and its surroundings?

The Greater Angkor Project (GAP).

What area did the urban complex of Angkor cover?

About 200 to 400 square kilometers.

What was the significance of the hydraulic network in Angkor?

It was part of a vast water control system connecting agricultural fields, villages, and temples.

How large was Angkor at the height of its occupation?

Nearly 3,000 square kilometers, making it the largest low-density pre-industrial city on Earth.

What is one of the key archaeological findings from the Greater Angkor Project?

Identification of at least 74 structures as possible temples.

What was the primary function of the roads in the Khmer empire?

To unite the empire and facilitate local traffic.

What type of society was the Khmer civilization described as during its classic period?

A cosmopolitan blend influenced by extensive trade connections.

What is the significance of Angkor being referred to as a 'hydraulic city'?

It emphasizes the city's extensive water catchment, storage, and redistribution systems, with local temples surrounded by moats and connected by canals.

What geographical area did the Kingdom of Srivijaya cover?

The Kingdom of Srivijaya was based on the Indonesian island of Sumatra and extended its influence across Maritime Southeast Asia.

When did the Kingdom of Srivijaya likely begin to coalesce as a political entity?

Around 500 CE, with archaeological evidence suggesting earlier beginnings as early as 200 CE.

What was the capital of the Srivijaya Empire?

The capital was near present-day Palembang, Indonesia.

During which centuries did the Kingdom of Srivijaya prosper from Indian Ocean trade?

Between the 7th and 11th centuries CE.

What strategic location did Srivijaya control that contributed to its wealth?

The Melaka Straits, which facilitated trade between the Malay Peninsula and Indonesia.

What luxury items were commonly traded through Srivijaya?

Spices, tortoiseshell, silk, jewels, camphor, and tropical woods.

Who was the first historical source to mention Srivijaya and when did he visit?

The Chinese Buddhist monk I-Tsing visited in 671 CE.

What does the Kedukan Bukit Inscription tell us about Srivijaya?

It recounts the story of Dapunta Hyang Sri Jayanasa, who founded Srivijaya with 20,000 troops.

What significant expansion did Srivijaya achieve in the 8th century?

It expanded into Java and the Malay Peninsula, controlling the Melaka Straits.

What role did Srivijaya play in the spread of Buddhism?

It became an important center of Buddhist learning and thought, influencing smaller kingdoms.

What monumental structure was constructed by the Saliendra kings of Central Java?

Borobudur, one of the largest examples of Buddhist monumental architecture.

What foreign power attacked Srivijaya in 1025, and what was the outcome?

Rajendra Chola of the Chola Empire attacked key ports, leading to a two-decade struggle that weakened Srivijaya.

How did Srivijaya's status change by 1225 according to Chinese author Chou Ju-kua?

Srivijaya was described as the richest and strongest state in western Indonesia.

What event marked the conquest of Srivijaya in 1288?

It was conquered by the Singhasari Kingdom.

What was a significant factor in the decline of Srivijaya?

The conversion of the majority of Sumatran and Javanese to Islam, influenced by Indian Ocean traders.

What happened to Srivijaya by the year 1400?

The kingdom was completely erased from the map after several attempts to revive it.

What was the impact of the Indian Ocean trade on Srivijaya's wealth?

The wealth from transit taxes on traded goods allowed Srivijaya to expand its territory and influence.

How did Srivijaya manage to control trade routes between China and India?

By establishing itself as a choke-point in the Indian Ocean maritime Silk Routes.

What was the relationship between Srivijaya and the Buddhist monks from Sri Lanka?

Srivijaya supported an extensive community of Buddhist monks who had contacts with their co-religionists in Sri Lanka.

What was the significance of Marco Polo's visit to Srivijaya?

He stopped there in 1291-92 on his way back from Yuan China, highlighting Srivijaya's continued relevance at that time.

What led to the weakening of Srivijaya after the Chola invasions?

The prolonged military effort to fend off invasions drained resources and weakened the kingdom.

What archaeological evidence supports the early existence of Srivijaya?

Inscriptions in Old Malay from the Palembang area, dated as early as 682 CE.