ANCIENT INDIA QUIZ (Topic 4, Lessons 1-3) STUDY SHEET

Indo Aryans

wrote 4 books known as the Vedas- each with 1000s of sacred hymns.

Diseases

- due to mosquitoes drawn to standing flood water.

Indo Aryans

wrote 4 books known as the Vedas- each with 1000s of sacred hymns.

Diseases

- due to mosquitoes drawn to standing flood water.

Citadel

- fortified area- center of government, religion or maybe both.

Mahabharata

- worlds longest poem- conflict between loyalty to family and duty.

Upanishads

- writings of these teachers- connection between heavenly forces and.

Jati

- birth groups by occupation, each with their own rules & restrictions.

Bhagavad Gita

- considered by some as Hinduisms most imp.text.

Sanskrit

The Vedas were written in - a language of sacred literature that was ancestor to English and other modern languages in India.

Starvation

- cattle overgrazed and crops couldnt grow.

Monsoons

(seasonal winds) bring rain in the summer, agriculture depended on it.

India today

Castes in - law prohibiting discrimination based on caste.

Reincarnation

- rebirth of a soul in new body.

Epic Poems

- story of heroes told in verse /explain religious ideals & how to live.

Gurus

- religious teachers- thought and discussed religious ideas.

Long term drought

- climate change dried up the rivers.

Ramayana

- importance of dharma (righteous action)

social classes

Society organized by castes- fixed based on birth with specific rules of behavior.

Moksha

- liberation from reincarnation, joining Brahman, the purpose of life.

Karma

- effect of a persons actions in this and in previous life.

Brahman

- one supreme cosmic consciousness, spiritual force, or God.

Way of Meditation

- mind can be disciplined with spiritual practices like yoga.

Bad karma

will bring suffering in a next life, good will lead to a clearer path.

Religion

- No evidence of temples or religious activities.

Hinduism

based on word - name given to people of India by Persian traders.

Early Hinduism

(Brahmanism)- based on rituals to Brahman given by the priests.

Way of Devotion

- worshiping /offerings to the Hindu Gods or Goddesses.

Indus & Saraswati Rivers

NW India / location of Indias 1st civilization

Religion

No evidence of temples or religious activities

Cities well planned and organized

grid pattern with straight streets

No evidence of royal statues or tombs

kings unlikely

Rich in resources

trade by sea to Mesopotamia (stone/clay seals as evidence)

Diseases

due to mosquitoes drawn to standing flood water

Starvation

cattle overgrazed and crops couldnt grow

Earthquake

changed course of river

Long term drought

climate change dried up the rivers

Might be Indias original inhabitants

no mention of migrating in the Vedas

Or from Central Asia

migrated into India with their livestock, mixed with local people and local beliefs to create the Indo-Aryans

Spread east across the Ganges plain

formed towns and cities

Indo-Aryans wrote 4 books known as the Vedas

each with 1000s of sacred hymns

The Vedas were written in Sanskrit

a language of sacred literature that was ancestor to English and other modern languages in India

Society organized by castes

fixed social classes based on birth with specific rules of behavior

Four varnas (groupings based on skill)

Brahmins (priests and teachers) represent a higher caste than even the rulers, those that work with their hands (Sudras) represent the bottom

jati

birth groups by occupation, each with their own rules & restrictions

Costs of caste system

limit individual freedoms, pattern of lives fixed at birth

Benefits of caste

help India develop by stability, diff

Castes in India today

law prohibiting discrimination based on caste

-Hinduism based on word Hindu

name given to people of India by Persian traders

-Early Hinduism (Brahmanism)

based on rituals to Brahman given by the priests

peoples lives

questions of life and death / right and wrong

Epic Poems

story of heroes told in verse / explain religious ideals & how to live

Ramayana

importance of dharma (righteous action)

Bhagavad-Gita

considered by some as Hinduisms most imp.text

Brahman

one supreme cosmic consciousness, spiritual force, or God

Every person is born with a soul

also a form of Brahman

Reincarnation

rebirth of a soul in new body

Karma

effect of a persons actions in this and in previous life

Living a good & successful life

earning a livelihood with dignity

Doing things that bring pleasure

like eating good food, taking a hot bath

Moksha

liberation from reincarnation, joining Brahman, the purpose of life

Way of Knowledge

true understanding of ones soul and oneness with Brahman

Way of Works

religious rituals and duties to improve karma

Way of Devotion

worshiping / offerings to the Hindu Gods or Goddesses

Way of Meditation

mind can be disciplined with spiritual practices like yoga

Its flexibility

all gods as forms of a single, supreme God

People can pray and make offerings when convenient

even shrines @home