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AP World History Ancient India Flashcards

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10624828353Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro(2500 BCE-1500 BCE) urban centers in Ancient India; more complex architecture, organization, etc. than earlier cities (e.g. URBAN PLANNING, 2 story homes, sewar system, indoor plumbing, wells, streets)0
10624828354What is known about the languages of the Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro cities?It is indecipherable to date1
10624828355What does a lack of weapons lead historians to believe about the Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro cities?They had few/no enemies2
10624828356What did the Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro trade?Silver vessels and gold jewelry3
10624828357What type of religion did the people of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro follow?Anthropomorphic (and animistic?)4
10624828358Dravidiansearliest people of India; conquered by Aryans (Indo-Europeans)5
10624828359When was skin color first used to differentiate between people?When the Aryans conquered the Dravidians6
10624828360Why have artifacts from the Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro cities been lost?It is unknown; likely because of natural disasters and the takeover of the region by the Aryans7
10624828361The Vedic Age1500-500 BCE; time Period in ancient India markets by the Vedas; the Vedas were the main information source from this time8
10624828362The Vedas (1200 BCE- 600 BCE)Religious texts from long preserved, orally communicated poetic hymns; written in Sanskrit; comprised of hymns and poems, religious prayers, magical spells, and a list of the gods/goddesses; contained the Hindu core beliefs9
10624828363What is the oldest Veda?Rig Veda10
10624828364Purushacosmic man sacrificed and split into 4 to create caste system; mouth became Brahmins, arms became Kshatriyas, thighs became Vaisyas, and feet became Sudras11
10624828365Caste SystemSocial system that was created in India by the Aryans and that became universal across the Indian subcontinent, even though it was fragmented; contained 4 levels: Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas, and Sudras12
10624828366BrahminsPriests and the educated13
10624828367Kshatriyasrulers and warriors14
10624828368Vaisyasmerchants, artisans, farmers15
10624828369SudrasWorkers; peasant and serf class16
10624828370Pariahs/Harijans/untouchablesLowest division below the caste system17
10624828371JatiSubdivisions of castes; created due to inter-caste marriages18
10624828372VarnaCaste19
10624828373MahabharataHindu anthology written in Sanskrit; consists of 3 stories: Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, and Upanishad20
10624828374Bhagavad Gita/Ramayana2 epics in the Mahabharata that teach lessons about behavior through heroism, romance, and adventure21
10624828375UpanishadsPart of the Mahabharata; commentary on the Vedas (in mystical terms; discuss nature of the gods, meditation, etc.); foundational texts for what would become known as Hinduism; blended Aryan and Dravidian values22
10624828376Samsaracycle of rebirth; goal is to achieve karmic balance and Moksha23
10624828377DharmaIn Hinduism, a person's duty in life that must be fulfilled; you are born into your Dharma24
10624828378MokshaIn Hinduism, it is the end of samsara and the becoming of one with the gods25
10624828379Atmanthe individual soul (Hinduism)26
10624828380KarmaThe belief that actions in this life, whether good or bad, will decide your place in the next life; if you had good karma you will be born into a higher rank in your next life27
10624828381Trimurti3 forms of the god Brahman: Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva the destroyer28
10624828382SatiThe Indian custom of a widow voluntarily throwing herself on the burning funeral pyre of her husband. Even though this is outlawed today, it still occurs in some remote areas.29
10624828383Mauryan DynastyMost important rulers: Chandragupta and Asoka; successful for a short time in creating a centralized beauracracy30
10624828384Chandragupta(321-298 BCE); first ruler of Mauryan Dynasty; first ruler to unite Northern India; pushed the Persians out of India; divides empire into provinces, each of which had a prince (relative) that reported to him, and provinces were divided into districts which were also ruled by one of his relatives; steps down (abdicates) in 301 BCE; either from Vaisya or Sudra varna; inspired by Alexander the Great31
10624828385Reasons Chandragupta stayed in power1) He created a large imperial army (used war elephants 2) regulated trade (empire was established along trade routes) 3) created a spy network (because he was afraid of assassination)32
10624828386Capital of Mauryan DynastyPataliputra33
10624828387KautilyaAdvisor to Chandragupta; wrote the Treatise on Material Gain or Arthashastra which was a guide for the king and other rulers34
10624828388Asoka(304-232 BCE) Mauryan king; converts to Buddhism during the Battle of Kalinga in 262 BCE; does not force his people to convert to Buddhism (therefore India stayed mostly Hindu) greatly expands empire; had edicts written on large pillars and rocks across empire35
10624828389Asoka's Law CodeEdicts scattered in 30+ places throughout India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Afghanistan; mostly in Sanskrit except for one in Greek and Aramaic; 10 rock edicts; each pillar is 40-50' high (show wealth and power); represent Buddhist ideas36
10624828390Asoka's Accomplishments1) Established an efficient tax collection system 2) built roads for trade (with the tax money) 3) required servants to be treated fairly/ended slavery 4) created edicts that kept public informed and allowed for a strong central government 5) ambassadorships to improve foreign trade37
10624828391StupasBuddhist place of worship; Used by travelers; spread knowledge of Buddhism38
10624828392Mauryan Dynasty Scientific ContributionsNumerical system that was based on the number 10 and used the concept of zero; this is the system we use today;Arabs are given credit for this system because they picked it up during trade39
10624828393BuddhismFounded by Siddhartha Gautama; the essence of Buddhism is "the middle way of wisdom and compassion"; based on 4 noble truths40
106248283943 Jewels of Buddhism1. Buddha, the teacher 2. Dharma, the teachings 3. Sangha, the community41
10624828395Siddhartha Gautamafounder of Buddhism; born a prince; left his father's wealth to find the cause of human suffering; found an old man, a sick man, and a corpse and drew the conclusion that the cause of all suffering is desire; became the Buddha (the enlightened one)42
106248283964 Noble Truths1) life is about suffering 2) the cause of suffering is self-centered Desire and attachments 3) solution is to eliminate desire and attachments (Nirvana= "extinction") 4) in order to reach Nirvana you must follow the Eightfold Path43
10624828397Eightfold PathIn Buddhism, it is a set of guidelines on how to reach Nirvana and end suffering 1) right view/understanding 2) right thinking 3) right speech 4) right conduct 5) right livelihood 6) right effort 7) right mindfulness 8) right concentration44
106398753794 types of BuddhismTheravada, Mahayana, Tibetan, Zen45
10639875380Therevada Buddhism"Way of the elders" (closest to original form of Buddhism); promotes austerity (giving up attachments/living with bare minimum ); currently in Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka; individuals are in search of enlightenment which they believe will be found on a philosophical path; do not see the Buddha as a deity46
10639875381Mahayana BuddhismNewer version of Buddhism; "Great Vehicle"; view Buddha as a deity; focus on reverence for Buddha and bodhisattvas; spread to Eastern Asia (China, Koreas Japan, and Vietnam); more people can achieve nirvana, which was appealing47
10639875382What do Mahayana Buddhists refer to their rivals as?"Lesser vehicles" (because they are the "great vehicle")48
10639875383Bodhisattvaone who has already attained enlightenment/nirvana, but has chosen to return to life in order to help others do the same (e.g. the Dalai Lama)49
10651791524Gupta Empire(319-540 CE) next time in history after Mauryan dynasty that India was unified under a central government; northern India (smaller area than Maurya) during classical period; Golden age of India; lots of foreign trade regulated by rulers50
10651791525Why was the Gupta Empire the Golden Age of India?Because it was a time of wealth and peace51
10651791526Continuities from Vedic Age to Classical India1) Hinduism as dominant religion 2) caste system 3) cotton and cotton products52
10651791527Because the Gupta Empire had no enemies, they were able to......spend more money on people and the city rather than defense53
10651791528Capital of Gupta EmpirePataliputra54
10651791529How did the Gupta Empire treat religions other than Hinduism?Well; they were very tolerant of other religions55
10651791530Why is Gupta considered a "Theater State"Because entertainment, rituals, festivals, etc. were always going on in Pataliputra56
10651791531What is a major difference between the governments of the Gupta and Mauryan Empires?Both have centralized bureaucracies, but Gupta gave local rulers more authority than the Mauryans did (allowing them more power could have potentially led to an overthrow of the government by local leaders)57
10651791532Fa-xianChinese Buddhist monk who traveled to India to follow the path of the Buddha (a pilgrimage) and wrote reports of his journey along the way58
10651791533Why was India a perfect location for trade?Because it was situated between China, the Middle East, the Mediterranean, and Europe (all major empires during the time)59
10651791534What goods did India trade?Cotton and spices60
10651791535KalidasaMost famous Gupta writer who is considered the Shakespeare of his time61
10651791536Most Gupta art related to...Religion62
10651791537Education in the Gupta EmpireThere were separate universities for each major63
10651791538Gupta's Medicinal AchievementsC-sections, inoculations, plastic surgery, printed medicinal guides, 1000 classified diseases, 500 healing plants64
10651791539Mathematical achievements of the Gupta EmpireDecimal system, pi, concept of zero65
10651791540Which civilization, along with the Gupta Empire, developed the concept of zero?The Mayans66
10651791541Gupta's astronomical achievementsDiscovered the earth is round, created a solar calendar67
10651791542Angkor WatCambodia (11th century); largest religious monument in the world that was originally built for the Hindu figure Vishnu, but was turned into a Buddhist temple in the 14th century68
10651791543Borobudur9th century Mahayana Buddhist temple built in Java (present day Indonesia); contains 72 stupas; tried to emulate Mt. Mera; covered with volcanic ash and was not discovered until the 18th century69
10651791544Ajanta CaveaCaves in India dedicated to Buddha70
10652014240Who invaded and conquered the Gupta Empire?The White Huns71

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