India Geography Review

India Review

By: Ms. Aziz

​Geography

​What are the important rivers and mountains ranges to the India subcontinent?

​Ganges River & Indus Ruveiver - good for trade.

Himalayain Mountains & Hindu Kush - keeps safe (to get through the Hindu Kush, ​you needed a Kypher Pass.)

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​What are monsoons and how do they impact the region positively and negatively?

​Monsoons are cra storms kind of like a hurricane. They provide water for plants and animals, but they can cause larger floods. They are the most important water source the India subcontinent relys on.

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​What are the Vedas?

​Vedas are ancient hindu scriptures. They are written in Sanskrit.

Hin​duism

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What was the caste system of India?

Your caste was determined by your birth. Whatever caste you were born into, you stayed in for your entire life. Your caste is your social class. The caste system is the social structure the same as a pyramid. Brahmins  were priests, scholars, and teachers, Kshatriyas  were rulers and warriors, Vaishyas were merchants, artisans, and farmers, Shudras  were servants and laborers, and the Jatis/ Dalits, or the Untouchables, would collect garbage and dispose of dead animals​.

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​Hinduism

​Explain Brahman (the god).

Brahman the god is supreme power and divine that will live forever. He is everywhere, almost like a spirit. He created everything and lives in everything. There are three gods, a trinity. Brahman - creator, Vishnu - protector, and Shiva - destroyer.

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​Explain Karma, Dharma and Reincarnation.

Dharma is one’s duty to live an honorable life and help others. Karma is the belief that your actions in this life will impact your next. Do your dharma to get good karma. Reincarnation is the belief that when your body dies, but your soul will be born again into another life. Selfless service, studying scripture, unconditional love for Brahman, and deep meditation help to end reincarnation. Dharma is your duty. You know what is expected of you because your caste determines your Dharma. Karma is the effect of your actions. Karma your consequences. 

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Who was Siddhartha Gautama? 

Siddhartha Gautama was an Indian prince who became the Buddha. He was born into a royal family, and he decided to meditate for a long time and when he awakened, he became the Buddha.​

Buddism​

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​Explain the Four Noble Truths.

The Four Noble Truths is when suffering occurs from wanting. To stop the wanting is to follow the eightfold path. They are the guide to find enlightenment. The Four Noble Truths are 1. Life is suffering, 2. Suffering is caused by our wants and desires, 3. To end it is to stop wanting, 4. To stop wanting we follow the eightfold path.

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​What is the ultimate goal of a Buddhist? 

The ultimate goal of a Buddhist is to reach enlightenment and this is called nirvana.

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​The Empires Of India

​Which empire was the first to unify India?

The Maurya empire was the first empire able to unite all of India.

​Why did Ashoka become a Buddhist? 

The empire reached its height under Ashoka. After a very brutal battle, he rejected violence and became a Buddhist. He wanted to live a more peaceful lifestyle.

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​Vocab

• ​Monsoon: a strong wind that brings heavy rain to southern Asia in the summer

• Subcontinent: a large landmass that is smaller than a continent

• Hinduism: a religion that developed in India over thousands of years and spread across the world; most Hindus believe in one Supreme Being that can take many forms.

• Caste: a social class, or group, in Indian society 

• Dharma: a belief found in Hinduism and other Indian traditions that a person has a duty or obligation to live an honorable life 

​Vocab

• Karma: a concept found in Hinduism and other Indian traditions about how the good and evil done in a past life determines what happens to one’s soul in the next life 

• Reincarnation:  the belief that a person’s soul is reborn into a new body after death 

• Vedas: a collection of ancient texts that are the foundation of Hinduism 

• Buddha: a Sanskrit word meaning “awakened”; the name given to the man who founded Buddhi

• Buddhism:  the religion founded by Siddhartha, which teaches that life brings suffering that one can escape by seeking nirvana through enlightenment 

​Vocab

• ​Eightfold Path: a key idea of Buddhism whereby followers should live their lives according to these eight teachings

• Enlightenment: the state of gaining spiritual insight and finding universal truth; the goal of Buddhists

• Four Noble Truths: the four basic doctrines, or principles, of Buddhism 

• Nirvana: an ideal state of happiness and peace 

• Edict: a command that is obeyed like a law

• Golden age: a period of great happiness, prosperity and achievement

• Philosophy:  set of values by which one lives; the search for wisdom and knowledge