Untitled Lesson

Ancient India Unit Review

Part 1: Fill in the blank

Directions

Use the drop down boxes to complete the sentences. Some answers will repeat and there are some incorrect options mixed in.

Ancient India Unit Review

Ancient India is one of the most unique and enduring civilizations we study. Yet, despite its enduring legacy, India experienced a lot of change in its first 2,000 years. Two different groups settled and established thriving civilizations, two major religions emerged, and numerous achievements that still influence us today.

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Ancient India was located in the same general area as modern India. The area was largely separated from the rest of the continent of ​

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, in an area known as the​

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. To the south was the ​

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which would eventually become a means for travel and trade, but still prevented regular connection with nearby civilizations. To the north were the ​

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. Separating India from China, they provided protection from outside invaders, but also limited cultural interaction and trade. Water from melting snowcaps provided the water for the rivers around which​

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developed.

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The ​

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to the west and ​

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to the east provide an ideal settlement location because they are a steady source of water, food, trade, and transportation. The ​

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was also subjected to seasonal winds called ​

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that brought rains that flooded the valley and provided lots of water to the rest of the ​

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.

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The ​

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River Valley is the home of India’s earliest civilizations. The ​

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civilization (sometimes also called the ​

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River Valley civilization) was an early agricultural civilization and contained many modern conveniences. The city’s roads are arranged into a ​

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system, in which roads ran in a parallel manner, which made navigating the cities easier. Their architecture was made out of ​

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bricks and most homes contained bathrooms with washing facilities which drained into a city-wide underground sewer system. Archaeologists have also found evidence of public baths and wells, as well as private bathrooms in homes. They also had a writing system that we cannot yet decipher. Despite all the advances, these people did not leave any clues as to their end.

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The ​

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were a group of people who moved into India from Northwest Eurasia and their culture had a profound impact on the current inhabitants of India. Their social structure, called the ​

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, is more rigid than most systems. The system consisted of four main ​

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that divided society and were based on birth, wealth, and occupation. The highest class was the Brahmins, who were seen as the most knowledgeable and divine and included ​

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, gurus, teachers, and scholars. They were the only ones who were allowed to perform religious ceremonies and study/teach sacred texts. The second highest class was the Kshatriyas who were ​

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, warriors ​, and public officials. Their role was to defend and govern the country. Following the Kshatriyas were the Vaisyas, who were the working class of merchants, artisans, landowners, farmers, and other skilled workers. Their role was to keep the economy going. The bottom caste was Sudras who were unskilled workers and servants and represented the majority of the population.

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The religion of ​

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derived from Aryan culture and traditions. ​ It is a ​

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religion based on the writings contained in the ​

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. Followers believe that a universal spirit, Brahman, controls all the universe and interactions with people in many different forms including different gods and goddesses. Another important concept is ​

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in reincarnation, the idea that the soul goes through a continuous cycle of life, death, and rebirth, until one can break the cycle.

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Throughout one’s life, a person must do their ​

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, or duty, as a Hindu and a member of their ​

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. A person’s ​

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influences their caste placement in their next life. Of course, the ultimate goal in Hinduism is to achieve ​

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and break the cycle of reincarnation and rejoin Brahman. The ​

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are the sacred texts of Hindus and are divided into four volumes. These religious scriptures address many aspects of life and influence many social, political, legal, domestic, and religious practices among its followers to this day.

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Another major religion also originated in Ancient India. ​

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is based on the teachings of ​

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, was born a Hindu prince who abandoned his current life to search for a way to end suffering. According to tradition, he eventually finds enlightenment and was then known as the ​

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, or "enlightened one". The religion's sacred text is the ​

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which contains the teachings of ​

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The Four ​

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are key beliefs of Buddhism. They are: (1) Life is full of suffering, (2) The cause of suffering is wanting, (3) The way to end suffering is to stop wanting, and (4) The way to stop wanting is to follow the Eightfold Path. The ​

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is a series of practices that one can follow to achieve ​

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, which is a state of perfect peace and enlightenment. Like Hindus, Buddhists believe that a person may need to live many times to achieve enough good karma to break the cycle of ​

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.

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Ancient India also produced advancements in math, science, and medicine that are important in our world today. They created ​

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numerals which is the basis of modern mathematics. ​

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included the first use of ​

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as a placeholder that indicates “none”, provided a 10 numeral base system to denote values and quantities (0-9), and introduced place value. The Ancient Indians were skilled in medical practices. Doctors would write down their knowledge in ​

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to be used in training future physicians. Doctors used inoculations, made medicines from plants, ​

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, and set broken bones.

Part 2: Maps & Diagrams

Directions

Identify the locations on the map and complete the chart or diagram as directed.

Labelling

Label the map of Ancient India.

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

Himalayan Mountains

Indian Ocean

Ganges River

Indus River

Labelling

Correctly label the Caste System diagram.

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

Sudra (servants)

Kshatriya (rulers, warriors)

Brahmin (priests, teachers)

Vaisya (merchants, land-owners)

Dalit/Untouchables (unclean jobs)

Categorize

Options (6)

Determined by birth

no social mobility

based on job

Social mobility is possible

Flexible social roles

Equal opportunities for all

Select the choices that describe the caste system of ancient India. (choose 3)

Caste System

Not Caste System

Categorize

Options (12)

Has many gods

started by Siddhartha Gautama

believes in reincarnation

believes in karma

created the caste system

monotheism

began in India

spread to most of Asia

began in Egypt

only Brahmins can go to the afterlife

any caste can go to the afterlife

the most practiced religion in the world

Organize these options into the right categories

Hinduism

Buddhism

Both

Neither