History Quiz

Question 1

what are the three zones of the subcontinent?

Answer 1

northern plains, deccan, and coastal plains

Question 2

northern plains

Answer 2

just south of the mountains
fertile religion-watered by three major rivers: Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra
rivers are sacred

Question 3

Deccan

Answer 3

raised area of land
triangular shape
region is arid, unproductive, and sparsely populated

Question 4

Coastal Plains

Answer 4

separated by Deccan by low mountains

rivers/ocean/rain for water, fishing, and trade

Question 5

what is a definitive feature of India?

Answer 5

monsoons, or seasonal winds

Question 6

phases of monsoon

Answer 6

winter-from northeast, dry air kills crop

summer-from southwest, drenches land with daily downpours

Question 7

what are the two major cities of the Indus Valley?

Answer 7

Harappa & Mohenjo-Daro

Question 8

what was the largest civilization until the Persian Empire?

Answer 8

the Indus Valley

Question 9

what have archaeologists discovered?

Answer 9

hilltop structure (fortress or temple)
huge warehouses (food storage)
carefully planned out (grid)
houses built with uniform bricks
houses had modern plumbing systems
merchants had uniform measurements

Question 10

what have archaeologists concluded?

Answer 10

possibly twin cities
well-organized government
led by priest-kings
city had steady supply or grain
government planned city
strong mathematics/surveying skills

Question 11

what are the religious beliefs of the Indus Valley?

Answer 11

polytheistic
worshipped sacred animals as well
veneration: special regard for

Question 12

what is the evidence for the decline of the Indus Valley?

Answer 12

cities no longer held to old standards

pottery/artifacts not as well made anymore

Question 13

what is the explanation for the decline of the Indus Valley?

Answer 13

cut down too many trees
volcanic eruption blocked Indus River and flooded city
devastating earthquake
Aryans (nomads) attacked in 1500 BC

Question 14

atman

Answer 14

essential self (aka brahman)

Question 15

moksha

Answer 15

union with brahman

Question 16

reincarnation

Answer 16

rebirth of the soul

Question 17

karma

Answer 17

actions in life that affect fate in the next

Question 18

dharma

Answer 18

religious/mortal duties of a person

Question 19

ahisma

Answer 19

nonviolence

Question 20

Jainism

Answer 20

New religion from Hinduism
founded by Mahavira (500 BC)
rejects role of Brahmin
emphasis of meditation & self-denial
extreme ahisma

Question 21

Four Noble Truths of Buddhism

Answer 21

1. life is pain
2. desire causes pain
3. no desire=no pain
4. eightfold path=be a good person

Question 22

nirvana

Answer 22

union with the universe, release from reincarnation

Question 23

Caste System’s Complex Rules

Answer 23

no marrying outside your caste
no eating with those outside your caste
lowest caste (Untouchables) had to dig graves, tan hides, or clean streets.
Untouchables had to live apart and alert their approach.
Brahmin–>Kastrias–>Vaisas–>Sudras–>Untouchables

Question 24

Positives of the Caste System

Answer 24

creates stable social order (karma)
gives sense of identity
flexible with diversity and occupations

Question 25

Women in India

Answer 25

had higher status early on
grew more inferior to men in time
thought to have shakti- completes their husband (a creative energy

Question 26

Primary Duties of Women

Answer 26

marry
show devotion to husband (determines reincarnation)
raise children
expected to be a sati- virtuous woman

Question 27

subcontinent

Answer 27

a large landmass that juts out from a continent