Ancient India Study Guide

What is the Hindu Kush?

• a mountain range northwest of India

• the highest mountain range in the world

• a vast desert to the west of the Himalayas

• the winds that flow northward during the summer

Which of the following were characteristics of the Harappan civilization?

• producers of wool clothing, houses used indoor plumbing, created a system of weights and measures

• houses used indoor plumbing, created a system of weights and measures, created the first system of writing in India

• influenced by Egyptian religious practices, created a system of weights and measures,cities established along the Ganges River

• cities established along the Ganges River, houses used indoor plumbing, created a system of weights and measures

How were Harappan and Mesopotamian civilizations similar?

• They both spoke the same languages.

• They both built pyramids in which to bury their dead.

• They both used the same system of weights and measures.

• They both created irrigation systems to supply water to their crops.

What is a grama?

• a language spoken by early Aryans

• a collection of stories that has cultural value

• a community made up of many family members

• a group of people who migrated from Central Asia

What group of people were part of the Brahmins in Aryan society.

• priests

• rulers and warriors

• laborers and non-Aryans

• farmers, craftspeople, and traders

What group of people were part of the Vaisyas in Aryan society.

• priests

• rulers and warriors

• laborers and non-Aryans

• farmers, craftspeople, and traders

What group of people were part of the Sudras in Aryan society.

• priests

• rulers and warriors

• laborers and non-Aryans

• farmers, craftspeople, and traders

What group of people were part of the Kshatriyas in Aryan society.

• priests

• rulers and warriors

• laborers and non-Aryans

• farmers, craftspeople, and traders

What are samskaras?

• people who do not belong to a particular caste

• dresses worn for special occasions, like a wedding

• evil spirits that cause people to commit evil actions

• rites of passage for different stages in a person’s life

According to Hindu belief, what determines whether people will have bad or good karma?

• their wealth

• their profession

• their social level

• their choices in life