AP Notes, Outlines, Study Guides, Vocabulary, Practice Exams and more!

chapter 3: Classical Civilization in India Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
227509598open to influence from the middle east and Meditteraneangeography keeps India connected to other countries0
227509599Alexander the greatPersian leader, invades India, increased Hellenistic influence in India1
227509600Himalayan mountainsmake political unity difficult. creates diversity. promotes herding economy in the North2
227509601two agricultural regionsIndus river valley and Ganges river valley3
227509602trading and seafaring economy along sea coast and Deccan Plateaueconomic differences. racial and linguistic differences4
227509603semi tropical climatetemperatures reaching 120 F. monsoons (torrential downpours along sea coasts) that were critical for farming, but they were inconsistent.5
227509604formative period"Vedic" or "epic'" ages. immigration of Aryans6
227509605AryansIndo-European nomads. Sanskrit. Vedas7
227509606Sanskritfirst literary language of Aryan culture in India8
227509607Vedas"knowledge"; sacred texts of the Aryans. Mahabharata-India's greatest epic poem; story of both real and mythical battles; Upanishads= epic poems of religion and mysticism9
227509608villlages became political unitsvillage cheif= organizes defense regulates property holdings (aristocratic) raja10
227509609heavy patriarchal family structureclose knit extended families11
227509610formation of the "caste" systemVarnas- social classes emphasizing class difference. social classes become hereditary. intermarriage between classes- punishable by death.12
227509611Kshatriyaswarrior class (1st class but then 2nd)13
227509612Brahminspriestly class (2nd class but then 1st)14
227509613vaisyastraders, farmers and artisans15
227509614sudrascommon laborers16
227509615dalits"untouchables" relegated to jobs of inferiority, contact with a dalit = impurity17
227509616polytheistic religion(but not really). spirituality of nature- Brahman. afterlife-Moksha. belief in unifying divine force. spawns buddhism. Ganesha, indra,{( vishnu, shiva), Brahma} are some of the gods18
227509617end of formative and beginning of classicalgrowth of political units, further development of sanskrit, increased trade19
227509618powerful political regional-states existdominated by priests and warriors. constant warfare.20
227509619Chandragupta Maurya seizes power in Ganges regionbecomes first leader of Mauryan Dynasty. develops large and powerful army. unifies much of Indian subcontinent. government bureaucracy (national postal system)21
227509620Ashoka Mauryagrandson of Chandragupta. conquers southern tip of India. converts to Buddhism seeking dharma (teachings of obligations of life and chaste; hopes to be unifying influence) increases and improves roads throughout empire. creates "rest stops" increases trade and spreads religion. rise of regional kingdoms after Ashoka's death22
227509621kushansinvade from northwest; rule for ten years23
227509622Gupta Empire is establishedpolitical stability through diplomacy. overturned in 535ce by Huns.24
227509623political institutionsdiversity and regionalism. Gupta Empire. importance of local/ village political units25
227509624Gupta Empireconsolidate support through divine rule. demanding system of taxation. allowed local ruler to govern under gupta name. promoted sanscrit, permittedregional linguistic differences. uniform law codes. established universities for higher education(at Nalanda)26
227509625importance of local/ village political unitsimportance of caste rules and restrictions- loyalty to caste over state.27
227509626HinduismIndia's majority religion. originated during Vedic ages (no single founder, no central holy figure). encourages ritualism and ceremony, mysticism, political adn economic goals, worldly pleasures. kama- "worldly pleasures" karma- "action" "deed"(law of moral consequence/ responsibility). Dharma-ethical duty based on divine order of reality, dharma determines karma. tolerant of other religiong. gradual transformation from worldly to spiritual religion (gods if nature replaced by gods of morals and ideals. gods of nature-gods of gentleness and generosity and god of sky becomes god of right and wrong)28
227509627gurusmystic leaders within Hindu religion29
227509628Brahman (atman)divine principle within everything worldly30
227509629reincarnationsouls do not die, but pass onto other life forms. based upon previous lives . full union with the brahma is reached after many lifetimes (end of all human suffering)31
227509630yoga"union"; allowing mind freedom to concentrate on divine spirit32
227509631obligations of lifeserving the family; producing a livelihood; earning money; and serving in the military when necessary "honorable action"33
227509632Ahismadon't harm living things on purpose or for fun, respect all living things.34
227509633Buddhaenilightened one. siddartha gautama35
227509634buddhism and hinduismhindu mystic, accepted spiritual truths of Hinduism; rejected worldly concepts ( particularly the concept)36
227509635material worldshare that warps humans causing pains. attachment=bad37
227509636salvationthrough destruction of worldly self38
227509637nivanaworld beyond existence and void of suffering39
227509638self control over ceremonyembraces all member of society. completely rejects caste system40
227509639dharmateachings of Buddha41
227509640focal pointsmeditation. "the middle way" reject extremes. eight-fold noble path (right view, right intentions, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right mindfulness). doctrine of "no self"42
227509641faced strong opposition within Indiarejected by upper castes, rejected by Gupta leaders43
227509642Spreads through China, Sri Lanka, Korea and Japansuccess in small areas of Northern India44
227509643rich cultural traditionsmyths and folklore (sinbad the sailor, Jack the giant killer etc)45
227509644advanced in science and mathematicsuniversity of higher learning in Nalanda 9 religion, philosophy, medicine, architecture and agriculture.) theory of gravity. rotations of earth and planets. "zero".46
227509645medicinebone setting and plastic surgery. standards of cleanliness and ethics. sterilization and vaccination (small pox)47
227509646the caste systemfew rights for women (debated whether women could move up to another caste unless reincarnated as a man firstand lower castes. strongly patriarchal48
227509647arranged marriageseconomic links (dowries)49
227509648technological advancementchemistry, steel and iron production, textile. despite advancements in technology remained an agricultural society50
227509649artisan guildscalico, cotton cloth, cashmere51
227509650indian influenceculture dominated indian ocean region. trade with china, middle east, africa and east indies. spread of buddhism throughout asia and southeast asia52
227509651china and indiabuddhism, reliance on large peasent farming class, strongly partiarchal, expansion by economics (india) versus expansion by politics (China). imitation and modification.53

Need Help?

We hope your visit has been a productive one. If you're having any problems, or would like to give some feedback, we'd love to hear from you.

For general help, questions, and suggestions, try our dedicated support forums.

If you need to contact the Course-Notes.Org web experience team, please use our contact form.

Need Notes?

While we strive to provide the most comprehensive notes for as many high school textbooks as possible, there are certainly going to be some that we miss. Drop us a note and let us know which textbooks you need. Be sure to include which edition of the textbook you are using! If we see enough demand, we'll do whatever we can to get those notes up on the site for you!