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Ancient India

Total questions: 136

Worksheet time: 1hrs 2mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
80% of the people who live in India, practice the ______________ religion.
a)
Judaism
b)
Christian
c)
Muslim
d)
Hinduism
2.
What is India's Holy River called?
a)
Nile
b)
Volga
c)
Ganges
d)
Indus
3.
Name of people who came to the Northern part of India in 1500 B.C (noble ones)
a)
Aryans
b)
Persians
c)
Babylonians
d)
Egyptians
4.
Sacred Hymns or songs of the Ancient Indians are:
a)
Dalits
b)
Vedas
c)
Monsoons
d)
Dice
5.

What are the seasonal winds that blow in southern Asia called?

a)
Hurricaines
b)
Typhoons
c)
Monsoons
d)
Trade winds
6.
Fixed social class where Indian people were born into was called the __________ system
a)
Sewer
b)
Caste
c)
Metric
d)
society
7.
Where did people first settle near India?
a)
Indus River 
b)
Nile River
c)
Himalaya Mts.
d)
Ganges River
8.
What was the high fortified area of a city called?
a)
Citadel
b)
Granary
c)
Monsoon
d)
Oompa Loompa
9.
The teachings of Siddhartha Gautama became known as 
a)
Hinduism
b)
Hebrew
c)
Buddhism
d)
Judaism
10.
Who are the three most important deities in Hinduism?
a)
Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu
b)
Brahman, Shiva, and Vishnu
c)
Brahmin, Shiva, and Vishnu
11.
The good or bad actions you do in life that determine whether you change your status in the next stage of reincarnation is known in India as 
a)
dharma
b)
karma
c)
moksha
d)
veda
12.
The main belief of Hinduism is 
a)
following the Four Noble Truths to enlightenment
b)
life is an illusion, and one day you will reunite with Brahman through reincarnation
c)
following the Ten Commandments and following ethics 
d)
preserving your body for your ka in the afterlife 
13.
How did Buddhism spread to other parts of Asia?
a)
Buddhism was outlawed by the caste system forever.
b)
Indian emperors forced people to become Buddhists
c)
The Buddha traveled across the world to spread his message. 
d)
Buddhist missionaries traveled across Asia and introduced Buddhism to others.
14.
No single known founder
a)
Hinduism
b)
Buddhism
15.
Founded by Siddhartha Gautama
a)
Hinduism
b)
Buddhism
16.
Believes that desire is cause of human suffering
a)
Hinduism
b)
Buddhism
17.
Teaches the path to reach fulfillment, wisdom, and salvation
a)
Hinduism
b)
Buddhism
18.
Opposed to the caste system
a)
Hinduism
b)
Buddhism
19.
Used to support the caste system
a)
Hinduism
b)
Buddhism
20.
Was originally a philosophy, not a religion
a)
Hinduism
b)
Buddhism
21.
Has many gods, all considered a part of one main god
a)
Hinduism
b)
Buddhism
22.
No god is worshiped 
a)
Hinduism
b)
Buddhism
23.

in Hinduism, the continuous cycle of rebirth

a)

karma

b)

samsara

c)

dharma

d)

Nirvana

24.

in Hinduism, the good or bad energy a person builds up based on whether he or she lives a good or bad life

a)

dharma

b)

karma

c)

samsara

d)

nirvana

25.

in Buddhism, a state of wisdom and freedom from the cycle of rebirth

a)

nirvana

b)

dharma

c)

karma

d)

samsara

26.
Which varna contains the warriors?
a)
Brahmin
b)
Sudra
c)
Kshatriya
d)
Dalit
27.
Which varna contains the farmers?
a)
Vaisya
b)
Brahmin
c)
Sudra
d)
Kshariya
28.
Which varna contains the priests?
a)
Dalit
b)
Kshatriya
c)
Vaisya
d)
Brahmin
29.
Which varna is not considered a part of the caste system?
a)
Sudra
b)
Dalit
c)
Vaisya
d)
Kshatriya
30.
People originally settled in the __ upon arrival to India.
a)
Nile Delta
b)
Mediterranean Sea
c)
Indus Valley
d)
Fertile Crescent
31.
India is set apart from the rest of Asia due to the _ and _ mountain ranges. 
a)
Ganges and Indus
b)
Tigris and Euphrates
c)
Himalayan and Hindu Kush
d)
Zagros and Taurus
32.
The language of the ancient Indians is known as _.
a)
Babylonian
b)
Cuneiform
c)
Hebrew
d)
Sanskrit
33.
What was the purpose of the caste system in India?
a)
It forced everyone to follow the rules of the king
b)
It allowed everyone to trade with each other peacefully
c)
It organized people in categories of society
d)
It promoted the worship of only one god
34.
For early groups, what was the main result of the modifications that were made to the land?
a)
increased military conquests
b)
new claims to territory
c)
new sources of food and clothing
d)
increased wind storms and drought
35.
Which feature of the Hindu-Arabic numeral system was an improvement over previous numeral systems?
a)
the use of only prime numbers
b)
the development of number lines
c)
the concept of one
d)
the concept of zero
36.
What is the name of the river marked with an “X”?
a)
Indus
b)
Ganges
c)
Brahmaputra
d)
Hindu-Kush
37.
The Himalayan Mountains are located..
a)
At the northern border of India
b)
On the border of Pakistan
c)
In central India
d)
In Sri Lanka
38.
Leaving India via the northern border was difficult because of..
a)
the Indian Ocean
b)
the Indus River Valley
c)
tigers
d)
the Himalayan Mountains
39.
a large, distinguishable part of a continent
a)
subregion
b)
subsist
c)
subcontinent
d)
submarine
40.
Some considered this to be a benefit of the caste system in ancient India..
a)
stability because everyone knew their place
b)
specialization of skills
c)
freedom of religion
d)
equality
41.
What was considered most important when living in the caste system?
a)
treating people of all castes fairly
b)
reading the sacred texts to those in castes below you
c)
following your dharma, reincarnating to the next caste as a result of good karma, and finally achieving moksha
d)
providing for your family
42.

Why did people settle in the Indus River Valley?

a)

to escape the Aryans

b)

farming, transportation, trade

c)

to see beautiful mountains

d)

the Brahman told them to

43.
Why did the Indians choose not to challenge the caste system?
a)
It was part of their religious beliefs.
b)
It was part of their economic system.
c)
They were afraid of punishment in this life.
d)
They liked the social class they were born into.
44.
The universal spirit of the Hindu religion is called...
a)
Re
b)
Shiva
c)
Brahman
d)
Vishnu
45.

Nirvana is...

a)

a state of perfect happiness and peace

b)

the idea of passing through many lives to be united with Brahman

c)

the consequences of how a person lives

d)

divine law that requires people to perform the duties of their caste

46.

Karma is...

a)

a state of perfect happiness and peace

b)

the idea of passing through many lives to be united with Brahman

c)

the consequences of how a person lives

d)

divine law that requires people to perform the duties of their caste

47.

Dharma is...

a)

a state of perfect happiness and peace

b)

the idea of passing through many lives to be united with Brahman

c)

the consequences of how a person lives

d)

divine law that requires people to perform the duties of their caste

48.

Buddhists follow the guidance of which two sets of rules?

a)

Torah & the Bible

b)

The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path

c)

Book of the Living & Book of the Dead

d)

Mahabharata and the Ramayana

49.

How did Hinduism originate?

a)

It came from Shintoism.

b)

It developed from Buddhism.

c)

It developed from the Aryan's faith and became mixed with Indian beliefs.

d)

It came from Judaism.

50.

Who founded Buddhism?

a)

Buddha or Enlightened One

b)

The Brahman

c)

Ramayana

d)

Mahabharata the Wise One

51.
Buddhists believe that you must give up what to get rid of suffering?
a)
your job
b)
all your money
c)
all your worldly desires
d)
your family
52.
What natural barrier makes India a subcontinent of Asia?
a)
Indus River
b)
Ganges River
c)
Himalayan Mountains
d)
Gobi Desert
53.
What was the name for the people that were not considered to be part of the caste system?
a)
Brahmans
b)
Vaisyas
c)
Untouchables
d)
Sudras
54.

Which concept is illustrated in the diagram?

a)

manorialism

b)

caste

c)

apartheid

d)

Ecomienda

55.

How did the caste system affect the lifestyle of the people of ancient India?

a)

Religiously, people follow their duty and hope for a better status in the next life

b)

Politically, priests and warriors keep their power over the common people.

c)

Socially, people's caste determine their jobs, marriage, and friends.

d)

All of the above.

56.

How can a Buddhist, unlike a Hindu, end the cycle of rebirth and reach enlightenment?

a)

A Buddhist must bathe in the sacred Ganges River.

b)

A Buddhist must practice strict nonviolence, not even harming insects.

c)

A Buddhist follows the Eightfold Path rather than their dharma or personal duty.

d)

A Buddhist must only use their prayer beads to stop the cycle of rebirth.

57.
___________determines how a person will be reborn.
a)
dharma
b)
ahisma
c)
karma
d)
moksha
58.
Which is the highest in the caste system?
a)
Brahmins
b)
Kshatriyas
c)
Vaisyas
d)
Dalits
59.
Which body of water is located directly to the east of India?
a)
Pacific Ocean
b)
Bay of Bengal
c)
Arabian Sea
d)
Indian Ocean
60.
The Aryans were NOT
a)
nomadic herders
b)
democratic leaders
c)
warriors with horses and chariots
d)
believers in reincarnation
61.
The 3 main Hindu gods are ALL BUT  
a)
Vishnu
b)
Brahma
c)
Shiva
d)
Gandhi
62.
What are the four basic caste groups of the caste system in Ancient India?
a)
Wealthy, Military, Working Class, Poor
b)
Rich, Middle Class, Lower Class, Poverty
c)
Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Sudras
d)
Hindis, Buddhists, Protestants, and Christians
63.
Hinduism believes in these EXCEPT
a)
Monotheism
b)
Karma: destiny is based on previous actions
c)
Reincarnation: rebirth
d)
Dharma: Doing good
64.
What were the Vedas?
a)
A group of powerful kings
b)
Religious texts of ancient India
c)
Major trade cities in ancient India
d)
A list of laws created for order
65.
A granary is a place to __________
a)
worship
b)
make clothes
c)
sell items
d)
store crops
66.
Which caste is known as 'pariah' or 'harijan' is the lowest in Indian society?
a)
Brahmin
b)
Untouchable
c)
Vaishya
d)
Sudra
67.
The two main rivers in Ancient India......
a)
Indus & Euphrates
b)
Euphrates & Tigris
c)
Nile & Ganges
d)
Indus & Ganges
68.

Which of the following are architectural achievements of Ancient India?

a)

Great Wall and Grand Canal

b)

Great Pyramid and Sphinx

c)

Indoor plumbing and sewage systems

d)

Ziggurat and Temple of Luxor

69.

Which of the following were important central beliefs to the two major religions that came out of Ancient India?

a)

Holy trinity/ heaven/ golden rule

b)

Karma/ reincarnation/ meditation

c)

5 Ks/ Guru Nanak/ Selfless service

d)

Mohammad/ 5 pillars/ Quran

70.

Your caste in Ancient India was determined by...

a)

Buddhist priests

b)

You, once reaching the age of 12

c)

The caste your parents belonged to

d)

The job you chose

71.

The Indus river begins in the __________ and empties into the __________.

a)

Himalayan Mountains, Arabian Sea

b)

Arabian Sea, Himalayan Mountains

c)

Indian Highlands, Gulf of Oman

d)

Gulf of Oman, Indian Highlands

72.

Hinduism believes in __________ which is the process of birth, life, death, and rebirth. (Fill in the blank)

a)

Karma

b)

Reincarnation

c)

heaven

d)

the afterlife

73.

What does polytheism mean?

a)

One God

b)

Many gods

c)

No Gods

d)

Spirit

74.

Which of the following is Buddha also known as?

a)

the average one

b)

the leader

c)

the enlightened one

d)

the man of the people

75.
According to the caste system, who is at the top of the pyramid and what is their job?
a)
Brahmin- priests
b)
Brahmin-farmer
c)
Sudra-farmer
d)
Sudra-priests
76.
the study of stars and planets
a)
metallurgy
b)
innoculation
c)
astronomy
d)
geography
77.
What caused river flooding each year in India, leaving a layer of fertile silt?
a)
wet monsoons in the summer from the north
b)
dry monsoons in the winter from the north
c)
wet monsoons from the south in the summer
d)
dry monsoons from the south in the winter
78.
Which of these is NOT TRUE about the Untouchables?
a)
They were banned from their homes
b)
They were given the worst jobs.
c)
They were part of the caste system.
d)
They endured harsh punishments.
79.
Which of these were based on a person's place in society or caste?
a)
clothes to wear
b)
job, marriage, friends
c)
foods to eat
d)
religion
80.
Which of these features of the Harappan cities made them different from other cities?
a)
paved roads
b)
indoor plumbing
c)
brick homes
d)
irrigation
81.
Which group was originally from central Asia?
a)
Harappans
b)
Aryans
82.

Which of these mountain ranges is located in the area of the Harappan Civilization?

a)

Hindu Kush

b)

Himalayas

c)

Taurus Mountains

d)

Zagros Mountains

83.

What can you infer from the fact that priests were at the top of India's social hierarchy?

a)

Warriors were very unimportant in ancient India.

b)

Religion was very important to the people of ancient India.

c)

Priests were the kindest people in ancient India

d)

Religion had no impact on the lives of people in ancient India

84.

Both Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro are well planned cities. What inference can you make about the people who lived in the Indus Valley?

a)

They all wanted cities to be identical

b)

They were intelligent and talented

c)

They had difficulty completing tasks

d)

They knew how to deal with monsoons

85.

Where did all of these civilizations develop?

Mesopotamia: Egypt: India

a)

River Valleys

b)

Mountain ranges

c)

Coastal region

d)

Rain-forest region

86.

All of the following were Indian achievements EXCEPT:

a)

Concept of Zero

b)

Algebra

c)

Cuneiform

d)

Number system

87.

What is a religion, based on the teachings of an Indian prince that developed in India in the 500's BC, taught that all suffering was caused by selfishness and spread rapidly throughout Asia?

a)

Buddhism

b)

Catholicism

c)

Judaism

d)

Hinduism

88.

Which feature of geography was the most important in the development of early river valley civilizations?

a)

Fertile soil from the rivers

b)

High mountains

c)

Vast deserts

d)

Smooth coastlines

89.

The Himalayan Mountains acted as a barrier for India. How did this impact the people living on this subcontinent?

a)

Helped protect them from invasions but also separated them from the outside world.

b)

Helped improve communication and spread new ideas with Asia and Europe

c)

Helped build relationships with the government and military

d)

Helped make traveling easier to trade with the rest of Asia

90.

Who was the ancient Babylonian king who created the earliest known code of laws which focused on harsh punishments to keep order in society?

a)

Sargon

b)

Hammurabi

c)

Eannatum

d)

Nebuchadnezzar

91.

Which of these is an example of a monarchy?

a)

A religion based on one god

b)

A government run by a single ruler

c)

A government run by the people

d)

An economic system for trading goods

92.
Hinduism is based on the teachings of a man named Mahavira.
a)
True
b)
False
93.
Which of the following is NOT a geographic feature of India
a)
Himalayans
b)
Ganges River
c)
Indus River
d)
Nile River
94.
Which is the following is a major achievement of India?
a)
Algebra
b)
Geometry
c)
Pyramids
d)
Ziggurats
95.
Who was the founder of Hinduism?
a)
Abraham
b)
Jesus
c)
Siddhartha 
d)
No real founder
96.
The classic Indian Epic Poem is the what?
a)
Epic of Gilgamesh
b)
Epic of Abrham
c)
The Mahabharata
d)
The Vedas
97.
Who was the founder of Buddhism?
a)
No real founder
b)
Abraham
c)
Asoka
d)
Siddhartha Gautama
98.
What statement BEST shows that Hinduism is Polytheistic?
a)
From Brahman came all the other gods
b)
Hinduism was a combination of Aryan ideas
c)
The universal spirit is Brahman
d)
In moksha, the soul reunites with Brahman
99.
According to Buddhism, what causes suffering?
a)
pain/suffering
b)
desires/wants
c)
ignorance/bliss
d)
4 noble truths 
100.
What do the arrows on the map represent?
a)
The Arabian Sea's current
b)
The direction the rivers flow
c)
The monsoon winds
d)
The mountain peaks
101.
In which direction is the Himalaya Mountains from the Arabian Sea?
a)
northeast
b)
southeast
c)
northwest
d)
southeast
102.
Which level would a Kshatriyas reach if they collect a lot of positive karma?
a)
Brahmins
b)
Kshatriyas
c)
Vaishiyas
d)
Shudras
103.
What would a shudra become if they collected to much "bad" karma?
a)
Brahmins
b)
Kshatriyas
c)
Vaishiyas
d)
Untouchable
104.
'Life is full of suffering' is part of 
a)
Ten Commandments
b)
Four Noble Truths
c)
Upanishads
d)
Eight Fold Path
105.
Which of the following is NOT an example of Indian literature?
a)
Mahabharata
b)
Upanishads
c)
Ramayana
d)
Torah
106.
What makes the hierarchy of India so unique?
a)
it has rich people and poor people
b)
everyone in society is divided by wealth
c)
whatever level you are born in cannot ever change until death
d)
India's society is higher than Egypt, Mesopotamia, and China
107.
Nomadic people who conquered the Harappans and most of India.
a)
Vaisyas
b)
Brahmans
c)
Sudras
d)
Aryans
108.
Strong wind that blows one way in winter and another way in summer
a)
Sanskrit
b)
Monsoon
c)
Nirvana
d)
Dharma
109.
Divine law that requires people to do the duties of their caste.
a)
Sanskrit
b)
Nirvana
c)
Karma
d)
Dharma
110.
The written language developed in India
a)
Cuneiform
b)
Hieroglyphics
c)
Karma
d)
Sanskrit
111.
The major rivers in India
a)
Indian, Indus
b)
Ganges, Indus
c)
Ganges, Arabian
d)
Arabian, Indian
112.
A state of wisdom
a)
Dharma
b)
Nirvana
c)
Karma
d)
Reincarnation
113.
Lowest group in the caste system. Did work Indians considered polluting
a)
Kshatriyas
b)
Sudras
c)
Vaisyas
d)
Untouchables
114.
The idea of passing through many lives to be reunited with Brahman
a)
incarnation
b)
carnation
c)
reincarnation
d)
recarnation
115.
Buddhism became popular in India because it did not defend
a)
The caste system
b)
Dharma
c)
Life after death
d)
The Hindu gods
116.
Which mountain range was an important natural land feature that helps defend India from outside invaders?
a)
Swiss Alps
b)
Hindu Kush Mountains
c)
Monsoon Mountains
d)
Himalaya Mountains
117.
In Hinduism, the universal spirit or creator is called
a)
Indra
b)
Siva
c)
Brahman
d)
Krishna
118.
Two famous epic stories that Indians today still like to read are the Mahabharata and the
a)
Ramayana
b)
Bhagavad Gita
c)
Panchatantra
d)
Theravada
119.
This system determines a person's job, social group, and marriage.
a)
Arabic-Indian
b)
Caste
c)
Buddhism
d)
None of these
120.
Identify the advancement the people of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro had in their civilization
a)
electricity
b)
underground sewer system
c)
arched roofs
d)
street signs
121.
teacher
a)
raja
b)
guru
c)
theocracy
d)
nirvana
122.

According to Hinduism, what is the ultimate goal of existence?

a)

to become a priest and reach the highest caste possible.

b)

to obey one's dharma and live right in order to have great karma.

c)

to be reincarnated into a higher group in the caste system.

d)

to achieve moksha, which is union with brahman, and stop the cycle of rebirth.

123.

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

a)

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

b)

The water brought by monsoons rains allowed agriculture to develop from India's major rivers.

c)

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

d)

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

124.

Which term is used to describe the spread of Buddhism from India through Southeast Asia?

a)

dharma

b)

cultural diffusion

c)

reincarnation

d)

karma

125.

The belief that the atman is released from the body at death and later reborn in another body is a process called

a)

Karma

b)

Moksha

c)

Nirvana

d)

Reincarnation

126.

Which definition defines Mohenjo-Daro?

a)

A rectangular stepped tower that looks like a pyramid. It is believed that a god lives at the very top.

b)

An ancient city that had a complex irrigation and sewer system. It also had a great bath.

127.
What river is labeled on this map?  
a)
Indus 
b)
Ganges
c)
Euphrates 
d)
Brahmaputra 
128.

the Vedas explored the relationship between the soul and the world, and founded the basis of __________

a)

Buddhism

b)

Hinduism

c)

Taoism

d)

Confucianism

129.

Which of these statements are true about Hinduism?

a)

It arose from the teachings of a single founder

b)

Its sacred books were written in hieroglyphics

c)

It is a way of life for over two billion people

d)

It has absorbed many beliefs from other religions.

130.

In the center of Mohenjo-Daro was a great _________, or fortress

a)

monsoon

b)

citadel

c)

caste

d)

subcontinent

131.

Early farmers in the Indus Valley produced

a)

food from poor soil

b)

a surplus of food

c)

the citadel

d)

only rice

132.

Which of these is not an appropriate job for Dalits, who are traditionally excluded from Indian society?

a)

Performing cremations.

b)

Cleaning soiled laundry.

c)

Taking a job as a craft-worker in a factory.

d)

Collecting and disposing of garbage and waste.

133.
The sacred writings of Hinduism are found in...
a)
the Zend Avesta
b)
the Torah & Talmud
c)
the Old & New Testament
d)
the Vedas & Upanishads
134.
Which statement regarding Buddhism is incorrect?
a)
Founded by Siddhartha Gautama.
b)
The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold path are a plan for followers to go to heaven. 
c)
Asoka was a primary factor in it's spread to other parts of Asia.
d)
Like Hinduism, its followers believe in karma and reincarnation.
135.
The Indo-Aryans entered the Indus valley, and mixed their ideas with the indigenous people of the area.  Indigenous means...
a)
distant
b)
exiled
c)
foreign
d)
native
136.

In which circle is India located?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

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