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Great Civ 2014-2015 > Ancient India > Flashcards

Ancient India Flashcards

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1
Q

Ancient India definition

A

bigger than the actual country India- made up of 6 modern countries

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2
Q

Subcontinent

A

Own plate, diverse climate, and separate regions, reason for no unity

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3
Q

Mountain region

A

Himalayas and Hindu Kush
Gave protection and a natural barrier
Cold
Himalayas > Hindu Kush

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4
Q

Two great river valleys

A

Indus (1st civ.) and Ganges (religious)
Great agriculture
Warm and high population
Farming in northern area

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5
Q

Deccan plateau

A

Upside down triangle on southern area
Dry
Decent agriculture
Low population

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6
Q

Coasts

A

Southwest and southeast
Rainforest ish
Low population (least out of all)

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7
Q

Monsoon

A

Seasonal winds, weather pattern built off of it, made going places easier (helped trade), very important to agriculture, two different ones (south is wet and north is dry)

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8
Q

Natural barriers

A

Mountains, well isolated and well protected, good but not worrisome at first, there is a mountain pass through the Hindu Kush mountains

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9
Q

Natural resources

A

Limited, trade>, cotton and spices and tea, silk road

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10
Q

Unity

A

Hard because diverse regions and amount of religions

Not unified whatsoever (excluding during a couple eras)

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11
Q

Synthesis:

A

Blending of the invaders (Aryans) to Dravidians
During Vedic Age
About blending of cultures

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12
Q

Caste system:

A

Started in Vedic Age
Determines life
Very Very Very rigid
Aryans started it, somewhat “apartide” ish
4 major levels: Brahmins (priests), Kshatriyas (warrior rulers), Vaisyas (merchants, farmers, artisans), and Shudras (bulk of population, conquered people)

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13
Q

Vedas:

A

In Vedic Age

Set of sacred religious texts (Hindu, 4 texts) which was first oral then written

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14
Q

Sanskrit:

A

Started in Vedic Age, a language which has been deciphered

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15
Q

Raja:

A

Tribal chief during Vedic Age

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16
Q

Indus Valley writing system

A

Not deciphered

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17
Q

Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro

A

Cities in Indus Valley
Had citadels, great baths (ritual bathing), wells, granary (stored grains), drainage system, baked bricks (took 3 months to bake) which were all identical

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18
Q

Indus Valley economy

A

Long distance trade and agriculture

Staples: wheat and barley

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19
Q

Indus Valley religion

A

Polytheistic and not much known

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20
Q

“Mother culture”

A

Not Indus Valley, but Vedic Age

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21
Q

End of Indus Valley

A

Weakening before Aryans arrived
Aryans were physically different then Indians
Aryans weren’t civilized, pastoral, or warriors

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22
Q

Vedic Age Political System

A

Localized rule by Raja (tribal chief)
Maharaja: great ruler (bigger than Raja)
Villages

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23
Q

Vedic Age family

A 
Very important 
Included extended family (3 generations)
Male oriented (patriarchy)
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24
Q

Vedic Age agriculture

A

Very strong because iron plow

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25
Vedic Age trade
Not very strong because less interaction | This was caused because Aryans don't trade and no big cities
26
Why to follow Caste System
Tradition, reincarnation, Gods "created" caste system
27
Mauryan Dynasty beginning
India coming in contact with Persia and Greece and Macedonia (influences india) Was believed that those civilizations were going to take over India
28
Chandragupta Maurya
Controlled northern India during Mauryan Dynasty, defeated Greeks, afraid of assassination, not liked, cruel
29
Asoka
At the beginning ruled like Chandragupta Maurya, then became kind after being "enlightened" Became enlightened by a life changing battle, Battle of Kalinga, in which he converted to Buddhism Promoted non-violence, human and animal hospitals Expanded dynasty by being nice- people wanted to be with him Reasons: First mean, life changing Battle of Kalinga, converted to Buddhism, expanded dynasty
30
Golden Ages
Indus Valley, Mauryan Dynasty, Gupta Dynasty
31
Mauryan Dynasty trade
Strong, exports- cotton and spices | Flourishing trade and industry
32
Post-Mauryan (Gupta) Dynasty
Politically falling apart, trade going up (spices), disunified
33
Chandra Gupta I
Founder of Gupta Dynasty | Made name Chandra Gupta because Chandragupta Maurya was so amazing
34
Gupta Dynasty area
Northern, smaller than Asoka's, expansion into north
35
Gupta Dynasty reputation
Golden Age and cultural
36
Gupta Dynasty accomplishments
Literature, poetry, drama, astrology (calendar was only 3 hours off), found out earth was round, art, hospitals, universities, medicine (amazing, had plastic surgery), math (decimals, 0, and pi)
37
Gupta Dynasty religion
Buddhism vs Hinduism, religious freedom, no one went towards Buddhism because reincarnation and caste system (not believed in Buddhism) and Buddha was from Nepal so he was seen foreign Very Hindu based Dynasty Summary: there as religious freedom, but most people were Hindu and few were Buddhists
38
Gupta Dynasty Decline
"The last great Hindu Empire" | Huns invasion weakened
39
Zoroastrianism basics
``` Founder: Zoroaster, born in Iran but when to India to find more followers Books: Avesta Main gods: devil and good (Dualistic) Idea of good vs evil Rebirth to clean soul Ceremonies are very important ```
40
Jainism basics
``` Started in Indus River Valley Founder: Mahavira Many symbols Conquer your karma Non-violence, idea of always telling truth Different sects Multiple lives, reincarnation "endless cycle" Code of conduct No main god No priests ```
41
Buddhism basics
Sufferings in world, dissatisfaction, which you are trying to avoid but you have to confront Enlightenment- a goal to reach No belief in supreme god (but there are deities) No way to convert Four noble truths Eightfold path- steps you follow to achieve Nirvana Middle path- reach an unabridged way and to be centered and moderation Nirvana- end of suffering to be eternally happy for soul
42
Hinduism basics
Not an organized system and no founder Origin- Aryan migration, combination of other religions No specific dates Reinforces the caste system Dharma- good in the world which runs out Karma, non-violence, vegeterians, never kill cows, reincarnation, succumbing to god, Samsara- lifes a cycle Brahman- supreme force, goal is to unite soul with him Goal is to be respectful and good
43
Buddha
``` Siddhartha Gatama From Nepal and grew up in Hinduism Father was a tribal king Means "the awakened one" Early life was luxurious till he came out of palace and realized suffering/selfishness in world ```
44
Which religion has nirvana
Buddhism
45
Which religions have karma
Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism
46
Karma:
What goes around comes around & what happens in this life affects next life
47
Which civilizations pressured India in the years before the founding of the Mauryan Empire
Persia, Greece, and Macedonia
48
The founder of the Mauryan Empire was named...
Chandragupta Maurya
49
The government set up during the Mauryan Empire
Provinces were ruled by governors or military figures, and then there were district in the provinces which were ruled by people chosen by provence rule. And then villages in the districts
50
Which ruler converted to Buddhism
Asoka
51
Did the economy flourish during Asoka's ruling
Yes
52
How did Asoka communicate his ideas to his subjects
His political texts were written on pillars and stone
53
Who is Chandragupta Mauryas grandson
Asoka
54
Enlightenment:
In Buddhism and Hinduism when you finally reach peace with the universe
55
Key imports:
Indus Valley - unknown Vedic Age- trade declined Mauryan Empire- unknown but better than Vedic Gupta Dynasty- gold, ivory, horses, silk
56
Key exports:
Spices, cotton, wheat, rice
57
Decline of Buddhism:
Buddhism out in Sultanate of Delhi, but up in China | Didn't believe in caste system so was minor in India
58
Reincarnation:
An endless cycle | All studied believe in it
59
Music basics:
s
60
Women:
Women: viewed horribly, had to be married off, not educated, Sati (widows threw themselves husbands cremation and she dies), can't own property, couldn't become priests, significantly worse than other civilizations
61
Sikhism basics:
``` Founder: Guru Nonak, was a Hindu and Muslim but saw flaws in both Eight gurus after founder Wasn't as successful as thought would be One god Doesn't believe in caste system Reincarnation Volunteer to purify soul 5 k's which say what should wear/do Northern India ```
62
Densest populated regions:
Coast and river because of resources
63
Era order
Indus Valley, Vedic Age, Mauryan Dynasty, Gupta Dynasty, Sultanate of Delhi
64
Indus Valley basics
Very urban, sophisticated, considered Golden Age
65
Vedic Age basics
"Motherhood" Age Influential, but not a Golden Age Started off as a Dark Age but got better after Sanskrit started and the Vedas
66
Mauryan Dynasty basics
High point of Buddhism
67
Citadels:
Fortresses found in Indus Valley
68
Who could become priests
Only men
69
Untouchables
Below everyone were the untouchables/pariahs, about 5%, not considered a formal caste, people couldn't do anything with them, had to tap sticks when entered a room
70
Impact of Caste system
No rebellion, put people into their place
71
Unity caused by Caste system
Brings a caste together, but splits up all of India
72
Sultanate of Delhi arrival of Islam
Spread the religion and trade
73
Sultanate of Delhi not united
Separate little kingdoms
74
Sultanate of Delhi Hinduism vs Islam
Caste system (Hindus believed in it but Muslims didn't), amount of Gods (Islam had only one but Hinduism is polytheistic), priests and merchants places in caste system, diet, art
75
Sultanate of Delhi decline
Mongols weakened, no unity, no accomplishments, religion problems
76
Sultanate of Delhi Islam
People switched from Hinduism to Islam to become 1st class citizens again Hinduism is still #1 but Islam is #2 Rulers were Islam, ruling as a minority and stayed powerful because strong military
77
Staple Crops
Wheat, barley, millet
78
Gupta Dynasty trade
Went up, spices were important, land and sea, international
79
Mauryan Dynasty capital city
Pataliputra
80
Singing
Nasally and is most important instrument
81
What are the instruments like?
Imitate voice | Nasally
82
Most important element of voice
Melody
83
Guru
Master teacher- connected to the divines
84
Raga
That which colors the mind (connected to god)
85
Tala
Rhythmic organization consisting of a repeated cycle of beats
86
Music basics (religious, process to become musician, improvisation)
Very religious Long process A lot of improvisation

Great Civ 2014-2015 (5 decks)

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