Ancient+India+Assignments



Ancient India Assignments

The fertile soil from seasonal flooding of the Indus and Ganges Rivers allowed a loosely knit common culture to develop.
 * page 127 #2 **

The Hindu Kush is like a wall with cracks in it because the western most mountain ranges including the Himalayas are like a wall. There are passes between the mountains like cracks. Theses "cracks” allowed migrating people and armies to pass through into India. The Monsoons caused the Indus and Ganges Rivers to overflow, the overflow spread silt over the ground close to the riverbanks. Food could be grown close to the river. Civilization grew when there was a surplus of food. Surplus of food allows specialization of labor  page 135 #2 The Aryan migration brought cattle raising, horses and Hinduism to the Indus valley  Main teachings of Hinduism:  beliefs of Buddhism
 * page 127 #3 **
 * page 127 #4 **
 * page 135 #3 **
 * many gods
 * a caste system
 * reincarnation
 * practice yoga to gain perfect understanding
 * page 135 #4 **
 * overcome suffering by letting go of greed, hatred and ignorance
 * Practices: poverty, meditations, study

Asoka used his power to spread Buddhism Ashoka’s Buddhism emphasized the peaceful aspects Buddhism: observe Buddha’s birthday; holy men and women practice ancient disciplines of poverty, meditation, and study Hinduism: Holidays, poems for the Veda, festival of Lights
 * page 135 # 5 ** What role did Buddhism play in the Mauryan Empire?
 * page 135 #6 ** How did Asoka’s Buddhism differ from Chandragupta’s?
 * page 135 #7 ** How do Indians maintain ancient religions?

Monsoons spread nutrients through flooding, helping the crops to grow They brought their weapons, chariots, livestock and religion to the Indus valley It was the way Indian society was divided. The four main castes were: priests, warriors, merchants and peasants They were mostly agricultural societies that need to settle near fertile land like river valleys India’s prehistoric inhabitants did not leave written records or many artifacts or buildings Hindus and Buddhists believe in rebirth and the goal of achieving a more prefect state., Buddhists, however, don’t believe in the permanent soul or caste system. Confucianism and Taoism agree on the need for peace and calm, however, Confucianism states this comes from social harmony, while Taoism states it comes from harmony in nature
 * page 150 # 3 ** . How were the monsoons important to ancient India’s civilization?
 * page 150 # 4 ** . How did the Aryans change life in the Indus valley?
 * page 150 # 5 ** . What was the caste system?
 * page 150 # 15 ** . Why do you think so many early civilizations formed near major rivers?
 * page 150 # 16. ** Why would little be known about India’s prehistoric inhabitants?
 * page 150 # 17 ** develop a chart to describe similarities and differences between Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism

Crossword Puzzle answers :


 * * **Hindu Kush ** 2 words for westernmost mountain range in north west India
 * **Alexander the great ** 3 words for Greek general who tried to conquer subcontinent of India
 * **subcontinent ** vast area of land that forms a major part of a continent
 * **Ganges ** one of two major rivers of India
 * **Indus ** one of two major rivers in India
 * **plain ** type of landform in most of northern India
 * **bay of Bengal ** 3 words for where Ganges River mouth is here
 * Arabian sea 2 words for where mouth of Indus River is
 * **monsoon **<span style="font-family: "calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> moist wind blowing of of the Indian ocean from early summer to late fall
 * **<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">diamond shape **<span style="font-family: "calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> 2 words for outline of India
 * **<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">mount Everest **<span style="font-family: "calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> 2 words for highest mountain in world and part of Himalaya mountains
 * **<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">Deccan plain **<span style="font-family: "calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> rocky and covers most of Southern India
 * **<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">Mohenjo Daro **<span style="font-family: "calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> ancient major city of Indus River Valley
 * **<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">Harappa **<span style="font-family: "calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> major city of ancient Indus River Valley
 * **<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">passes **<span style="font-family: "calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> breaks in the mountains which allow movement of people
 * **<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">Bhagavad-Gita **<span style="font-family: "calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> 2 words for Indian poem describing superhero Prince Arjuna
 * **<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">Aryan **<span style="font-family: "calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> people who replaced first settled communities of Indus Valley
 * **<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">the noble ones **<span style="font-family: "calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> 3 words defining the Aryan people
 * **<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">Vedas **<span style="font-family: "calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> hymns of the Aryans which praised their gods
 * **<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">castes **<span style="font-family: "calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> levels of society
 * **<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">Upanishads **<span style="font-family: "calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> Hindu writings which try to answer who, what and where we are going
 * **<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">Brahman **<span style="font-family: "calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> universal life force
 * **<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">reincarnation **<span style="font-family: "calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> process of rebirth to free the soul
 * **<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">atman **<span style="font-family: "calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> individual soul
 * **<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">ahimsa **<span style="font-family: "calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> not injuring any living thing
 * **<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">yoga **<span style="font-family: "calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> mental and physical exercise of Hindus
 * **<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">Diwali **<span style="font-family: "calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> festival of lights ||