By: Victoria Silva

And

Elizabeth Sutton

Polytheistic- Belief in many gods.Maya- Illusory world of the senses; according to the Hinduism.

Monsoons- Winds that mark seasons.Monism- Belief in one god.Differences- The source of the complex system of social orders.

Nomadic- Moves from 1 place to another.Reincarnation- Rebirth of ones soul; Born in a new body.

Citadel – Strong central fortress of a city.Raja- The prince who ruled the Indo-Aryan state.Epics – Long poems based on historical religious themes.

Caste System- A complex form of social organization; began to take shape after the Indo-Aryan migration.

Varnas- Social Classes in Indian Society.Nirvana- Reaching the “perfect piece” or “perfect place”

Polygyny- The practice in which a man is allowed to have more than 1 wife.

Suttee- Ancient Indian practice of a woman committing suicide after her husband’s death.

Inoculation- Practice of infecting people with a mild form of disease to protect them from a more serious illness.

Upanishads-Written explanations of the Vedic religion.

Bhagavad Gita - Last 18 chapters of the Mahabharata, stressing the idea of proper conduct for one’s status.

Siddhartha Gautama- Founder of Buddhism. Chandra Gupta II – A region (A.D. 374–415)Chandragupta Maurya- a powerful young adventurer

Panchatantra- Fables from the Gupta period of ancient India.

Nalanda- Famous Buddhist university of ancient India.

Indo-Aryans- Came from Black and Caspian seas. Nomadic people.

Vedas- Literature in the Indo-Aryan religion.

Sanskrit- Indo-Aryan language.Vedic Age-The period of India’s history from 1500 B.C.E to 1000 B.C.E

Asoka- Chandragupta’s grandson.Brahmins – Special priests of the Indo-Aryan society.

1. What role did geography and climate play in the settlement of the Indian subcontinent?

2. How did people in the first Indus River Valley live?

1. The geography had high mountain ranges so it made it harder for invaders to enter Indian by foot. The climate had high temperature. This was good for their crops.

2. The first Indus River Valley Civilization lived by growing crops and trading things that they didn’t need for clothing and food.

1. How did life in northern India change with the coming of Indo-Aryans?

2. What were the major contributions of the Indo-Aryans to ancient Indian society?

1. The Indo-Aryans had to cross Hindu Kush mountains. They came from the Black and Caspian Sea.

2. Some of their major contributions were marriages. They were set up by their parents. There was also a social structure. Warriors and priests were at the top. Farmers, merchants, and traders were below them.

Answers

1. How important was religion in ancient Indian society?

2. What were the principal elements of Hinduism?

3. What were the basic beliefs of Buddhism?

1. Religion was EXTREMELY important. They believed in polygyny, suttee, reincarnation, and nirvana.

2. Tfghjinr3. Buddhism's believes in

the eight fold path and the four noble truths.

1. How did the Mauryan rulers increase their power?

2. What were the reasons for the decline of Gupta rule?

1. The Mauryan rulers increased their power by fighting bloody wars.

2. The reason for the decline of the Gupta rule is Asoka’s death.

Answers

1. In what ways were women’s rights limited in ancient Indian society?

2. What were the most important cultural achievements of the Gupta period?

1. Women’s didn’t have much rights. They had to follow what their husbands said. If their husband died they had to follow her son’s orders.

2. In the Gupta period the most important achievements were plays, mural paintings, plastic surgeries, and inoculations.

Answers