Indian Early Civilizations, Empires, and World Religions

Harappan civilization was centered on the ___________________.

• Arabian Sea
• Himalayan Mountains
• Indus River
• Thar Desert

The Harappan civilization's smallest settlements were two cities, Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro.

• True
• False

Both Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro were well-planned cities.

• True
• False

A new group of tribes arrived in the Indus River valley, probably during the Harappan civilization’s peak or decline. They were called the _____________. Most historians believe they came from ______________. Over time, they became the dominant society in India during a time known as the ________ period or ________ age.

• Aryans, Central Asia, Vedic
• Aryans, Eastern Asia, Vedic
• Hindus, Central Asia, Vedic
• Varnas, Eastern Africa, Vedic

Much of what we know about Vedic society comes from religious writings known as the ________________. These are collections of poems, hymns, myths, and rituals that were passed down orally and later written down.

• Brahmins (BRAH-muhns)
• Rajas (RAH-juhz)
• Upanishads (oo-PAHN-ee-shads)
• Vedas (VAY-duhs)

Aryan villages were governed by _______________.

• Brahmins (BRAH-muhns)
• Rajas (RAH-juhz)
• Upanishads (oo-PAHN-ee-shads)
• Vedas (VAY-duhs)

Aryan poems and hymns were composed in a language called _____________, the most important language of ancient India.

• Cuneiform
• Cyrillic
• Hieroglyphics
• Sanskrit

The final group of Vedic texts are the __________________________. These writings are religious students’ and teachers’ reflections on the Vedas.

• Mahavagga
• Rigveda
• Upanishads (oo-PAHN-ee-shads)
• Vedas (VAY-duhs)

There were four main varnas, or social divisions. Select the choice that is not an example of the varnas.

• Brahmins (BRAH-muhns), or priests
• Kshatriyas (KSHA-tree-uhs), or rulers and warriors
• Rajas (RAH-juhz), or village leaders
• Sudras (SOO-drahs), or laborers and servants
• Vaisyas (VYSH-yuhs), or farmers, craftspeople, and traders

Which is not true of the jatis caste system?

• Rules about interaction with each other
• Four types of social divisions
• Associated with specific occupations (jobs)
• Membership determined by birth