Ancient India: Hinduism, Buddhism, and Ancient Kingdoms Overview

Where is India located?

India is located in South Asia.

What is the most spoken language in India today?

Hindi

What was one of the languages of Ancient India often used in Yoga and Meditation classes?

Sanskrit

What is Hinduism?

World's oldest major religion (over 8,000 years old) that started in the Indus River Valley.

What does the word 'Hindu' come from?

The Persian name for the Indus River.

Is Hinduism polytheistic or monotheistic?

Hinduism is polytheistic because it has hundreds of gods.

What is the belief in one god called?

Monotheism; Hinduism is monotheistic because all of the gods are a part of the creator god, Brahma

What is the belief in more than one god called?

Polytheism; Hinduism is polytheistic because it has hundreds of gods

What is Samsara?

Translates to the 'Wheel of Life'; Hindus believe that after death, people are reborn as another being.

What does Karma mean?

Karma means 'action'; good karma leads to reincarnation as a higher being.

What is Moksha?

Sanskrit word for release; liberation from Samsara and the ultimate goal of Hinduism.

What is the Caste System?

Ancient India's social class system where individuals are born into their social class.

Why might Hindus believe the Caste system is just?

They believe in Karma, thinking they deserve their class based on past life actions.

What are the Vedas?

Hinduism's oldest and most sacred texts, consisting of 4 Vedas, with the Rig-Veda being the most important.

What is the Bhagavad Gita?

An epic tale that tells the story of the origins of Hinduism.

Who is Brahma?

The main god in Hinduism, the creator.

What role does Shiva play in Hinduism?

Destroys the universe and is seen as the source of good and evil.

What is Vishnu known for?

Preserving the universe and appearing on earth through his avatars.

What is Buddhism?

A religion that uses many ideas from Hinduism, founded by Siddhartha Gautama.

What does 'Buddha' mean?

It means 'enlightened one'.

What are the Four Noble Truths?

1. All life is Dukkha (suffering). 2. The origin of Dukkha is tanha (desire). 3. There is a cessation to Dukkha. 4. The path to enlightenment.

What is the Eightfold Path?

The path to enlightenment consisting of Right Understanding, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration.

Who was Chandragupta Maurya?

The founder of the Mauryan Empire who united Northern India.

What is the Arthasastra?

A book of laws used to govern the Mauryan Empire, written by Kautilya.

Who was Ashoka the Great?

The grandson of Chandragupta Maurya, known as one of the greatest rulers in India's history.

What was the turning point in Ashoka's life?

The war with Kalinga, which led him to convert to Buddhism.

What is 'ahimsa'?

The Buddhist principle of non-violence.

What did Ashoka do to spread Buddhism?

He created new laws based on Buddhist teachings and circulated them throughout his kingdom.