Ancient India

Which geographic occurrence led to the creation of the Himalayan Mountains?

• the eruption of volcanoes

• mud flows from monsoons

• erosion caused by strong winds

• the movement of continental plates

What similarity did the Indus and Ganges Rivers share?

• They provided water that made the monsoons stronger.

• They created canyons that protected the Indian subcontinent.

• They added important nutrients to the soil that improved farming.

• They provided transportation routes that connected distant peoples.

Which statement best explains how the monsoons affected the development of early Indian civilizations?

• The flooding caused by monsoons slowed the growth of the population in early Indian civilizations.

• The water brought by monsoon rains allowed agriculture to develop away from India’s major rivers.

• The wetness from the monsoons pushed many to migrate farther south in search of a better climate.

• The harsh winters caused by strong monsoon winds blowing in from Central Asia made life more difficult.

Which characteristic contributes to South Asia being considered a subcontinent?

• It is geographically isolated from the rest of Asia by tall mountains.

• It has a different weather pattern from the rest of the region.

• It is separated from eastern Asia by the Arabian Sea.

• It developed civilizations that had no contact with outside peoples.

Which factor most contributed to the improvement of trade in India during the period of Gupta rule?

• the development of better ships

• the rapid growth of the population

• the construction of a network of roads

• the establishment of colleges and universities

Which action was forbidden by India’s caste system?

• marrying someone from a different caste

• moving from one village to another

• religious study by non-Brahmans

• eating certain foods

The Indian caste system originated with

• Eurasian invaders

• Buddhist missionaries

• Middle Eastern traders

• European colonial rulers

One accomplishment of Aryan control of India was the development of

• a polytheistic religion

• a written Sanskrit alphabet

• a river valley civilization

• trade relations with China

What happened to the Mauryan Empire during the reign of Ashoka?

• It began to disintegrate.

• It grew to include nearly all of India.

• It was conquered by the Aryans.

• It established trade relations with China

What happened as a result of outlawing the caste system in India in 1949?

• a revival of traditional Hindu rituals and ceremonies

• a renewal of tensions among the many ethnic groups of India

• a mass movement of the population from rural to urban areas

• an increase in educational opportunities for India’s poorest people