Chapter 9 - Ancient India

Question 0

1.What is a subcontinent?
A.a large landmass with at least two rivers that is inhabited by people

B.a triangle-shaped landmass

C.a distinct landmass that is surrounded by water

D.a large landmass that is part of a continent, but distinct from it

Answer 0

D.a large landmass that is part of a continent, but distinct from it

Question 1

2.The buildings and streets in the city of Harappa were made of cut stone.
A.TRUE

B.FALSE

Answer 1

False

Question 2

3.There is archaeological evidence that the children of Mohenjo-Daro ______.
A.played with toys

B.worked on farms

C.took part in religious ceremonies

D.drove ox carts

Answer 2

A. Played with toys

Question 3

4.Which statement about the Indus Valley is true?
A.The people there practiced the Hindu religion.

B.It is the location of India’s oldest civilization.

C.The Aryans left it to live in the mountains.

D.Life there was very difficult.

Answer 3

It is the location of India’s oldest civilization

Question 4

5.The Aryans had ______. The people of Harappa did not.
A.religion

B.strong central government

C.a river

D.written language

Answer 4

D. Written language

Question 5

6.The varna system made everyone equal.
A.TRUE

B.FALSE

Answer 5

B. False

Question 6

7.What are the earliest hymns, poems, and prayers in Indian culture known as?
A.Brahman

B.Sudras

C.Vedas

D.raja

Answer 6

C. Vedas

Question 7

8.In the caste system, the Kshatriyas were warriors and government officials.
A.TRUE

B.FALSE

Answer 7

A. True

Question 8

9.What could a boy from a leading Indian family do that a girl could not?
A.study with a guru

B.be part of the caste system

C.enter an arranged marriage

D.live with parents and grandparents

Answer 8

A. Study with a guru

Question 9

10.Which of the following statements is true of Aryan farmers?
A.If they were bright and worked hard, they could become government leaders.

B.They were usually Buddhists.

C.They grew spice crops, such as pepper and cinnamon.

D.No one knows what language they spoke.

Answer 9

C.They grew spice crops, such as pepper and cinnamon.

Question 10

1.Which of these is a Hindu belief?
A.Anyone can achieve nirvana.

B.A person’s status in life is a result of how they lived their previous life.

C.An individual does not have a soul.

D.Demonic forces try to keep people from living good lives.

Answer 10

B.A person’s status in life is a result of how they lived their previous life.

Question 11

2.Which of these is a Buddhist belief?
A.Desire is the cause of suffering.

B.No one can reach the highest spiritual plane.

C.The cow is a sacred animal.

D.The right ceremonies and rituals will result in enlightenment.

Answer 11

A.Desire is the cause of suffering.

Question 12

3.Followers of Jainism believe that the highest rule of behavior is to harm no living thing.
A.TRUE

B.FALSE

Answer 12

True

Question 13

4.The Upanishads compares ______ to a caterpillar moving through blades of grass.
A.nirvana

B.meditation

C.karma

D.reincarnation

Answer 13

Reincarnation

Question 14

5.What is the connection between dharma and caste?
A.They mean the same thing.

B.They are opposites.

C.Dharma determines caste.

D.Caste determines dharma.

Answer 14

D.Caste determines dharma.

Question 15

6.Siddhartha founded Buddhism.
A.TRUE

B.FALSE

Answer 15

True

Question 16

7.”Make sure your mind keeps your senses under control.” This statement is part of the ______.
A.Upanishads

B.Four Noble Truths

C.Vedas

D.Eightfold Path

Answer 16

Eightfold path

Question 17

8.Today an estimated 376 million people are Buddhists.
A.TRUE

B.FALSE

Answer 17

True

Question 18

9.Why didn’t Jains plow the fields?
A.They believed in traveling around and begging for food.

B.It was not part of their dharma.

C.They feared killing worms and other life in the soil.

D.They feared that contact with the soil would make them unclean.

Answer 18

C.They feared killing worms and other life in the soil.

Question 19

10.Which of the following beliefs is associated with Jainism?
A.moksha

B.Theravada

C.lama

D.ahimsa

Answer 19

ahimsa

Question 20

1.How did Chandra Gupta Maurya establish his empire?
A.by converting his people to Hinduism

B.by building an army

C.by improving communications

D.by winning a battle with Alexander the Great

Answer 20

By building an army

Question 21

2.Which of these statements is true of Ashoka?
A.He grew to hate violence.

B.He was an expert in astronomy.

C.He gave up all his wealth to seek enlightenment.

D.He built a beautiful temple that is still standing.

Answer 21

He grew to hate violence

Question 22

3.The Mauryan Empire eventually broke into small, warring kingdoms.
A.TRUE

B.FALSE

Answer 22

True

Question 23

4.Which leader is associated with stupas?
A.Chandra Gupta Maurya

B.Ashoka

C.Samudra Gupta

D.a nameless Gupta ruler

Answer 23

Ashoka

Question 24

5.Which ruler was known as a patron of the arts and literature? A.Chandra Gupta Maurya B.Ashoka C.Samudra Gupta D.a nameless Gupta ruler

Answer 24

Samurda Gupta

Question 25

6.Samudra Gupta set out to crush any resistance to his rule. A.TRUE B.FALSE

Answer 25

False

Question 26

7.Which of the following is part of a long epic poem? A.the Bhagavad Gita B.the Vedas C.the Upanishads D.the Gautama

Answer 26

The Bhagavad Gita

Question 27

8.A pilgrim is a religious traveler who visits temples or sacred sites. A.TRUE B.FALSE

Answer 27

True

Question 28

9.Which of these statements is true of Indian doctors? A.They used penicillin. B.They drained patients' blood to remove poisons. C.Most of their healing was done with religious ritual. D.Some of them performed plastic surgery.

Answer 28

Some of them performed plastic surgery.

Question 29

10.Indian mathematicians figured out something that modern technology could not do without. What was it? A.infinity B.numerals C.a symbol for zero D.pi

Answer 29

A symbol for zero

Question 30

How did physical geography and climate influence the development of civilization in India?

Answer 30

India and several other modern-day countries make up the subcontinent of India. A subcontinent is a large landmass that is smaller than a continent. The Indian subcontinent is part of the continent of Asia.

Question 31

How did the Aryans influence early India?

Answer 31

Sometime around 1900 b.c., the people of the Indus Valley began to abandon their cities and villages. Why did the people leave? Archaeologists have found several possible causes. There was a severe drought that lasted for hundreds of years. It destroyed crops and caused people to starve. Earthquakes and floods killed many more people and changed the course of the Indus River. Meanwhile, groups of people called the Aryans (AR • ee • uhnz) migrated to India. Soon a new civilization emerged.

Question 32

How was society in ancient India organized?

Answer 32

As the Aryans settled into India, people set up towns along India's Ganges River. Most people still farmed for a living. Some workers specialized in crafts such as carpentry or weaving. Others took part in trade. As India's economy grew, a system of social classes gradually developed.

Question 33

What are the basic beliefs of Hinduism? How did Hinduism develop?

Answer 33

Hinduism (HIHN • doo • ih • zuhm) is one of the world's oldest religions. It is also the third largest religion, after Christianity and Islam. Hinduism developed from the faith of the Aryans. The sacred writings, called the Vedas, teach the key ideas of Aryan religion. At first, the Vedas had to be memorized by Brahmin priests and spoken out loud. Much later, they were written down in Sanskrit. Over time, the Aryan religion changed as it blended with the ideas of other people of India. This mix of beliefs eventually became Hinduism.

Question 34

Why did Buddhism appeal to many people in various parts of Asia?

Answer 34

During the 500s b.c., some Indians felt unhappy with the many ceremonies of the Hindu religion. They wanted a simpler, more spiritual faith. They left their homes and looked for peace in the hills and forests. Many trained their minds to focus and think in positive ways. This training was called meditation. Some seekers developed new ideas and became religious teachers. One of these teachers was Siddhartha Gautama (sih • DAHR • tuh GOW • tah • muh). He became known as the Buddha (BOO • dah). He founded a new religion called Buddhism (BOO • dih • zuhm).

Question 35

The Four Noble truths:

Answer 35

1. Life is full of suffering. 2. People suffer because they desire worldly things and want to satisfy themselves. 3. The way to end suffering is to stop desiring things. 4. The only way to stop desiring things is to follow the Eightfold Path.

Question 36

The Eightfold Path:

Answer 36

1) Know and understand the Four Noble Truths. 2) Give up worldly things and do not harm others. 3) Tell the truth, do not gossip, and do not speak badly of others. 4) Do not commit evil acts, such as killing, stealing, or living an unclean life. 5) Do rewarding work. 6) Work for good and oppose evil. 7) Make sure your mind keeps your senses under control. 8) Practice meditation to see the world in a new way.

Question 37

What are the teachings of Jainism?

Answer 37

Along with Hinduism and Buddhism, another Indian faith known as Jainism (JEYE • nih • zihm) arose about 500 b.c. Today, there are 6 million followers of Jainism. Most of them live in India.

Question 38

How did religion affect the development of the Mauryan Empire?

Answer 38

By the 500s b.c., India was divided into many small kingdoms. Conflict over land and trade weakened the kingdoms, leaving them open to foreign invasion. Persian armies conquered the Indus Valley in the 500s b.c. and made it part of the Persian Empire. The Greeks, under Alexander the Great, then defeated the Persians. Alexander entered India but turned back in 325 b.c., when his homesick troops threatened to rebel.

Question 39

What were the cultural contributions of the Mauryan and Gupta Empires?

Answer 39

Ancient India produced a brilliant culture. Artists, builders, writers, and scientists made many contributions while the Mauryan and Gupta kings ruled.