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WorksheetsAncient India
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 20mins
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
Which innovation can be credited to Gupta mathematicians?
the invention of a digit to represent zero
the use of multiplication to speed up adding
the development of the basics of geometry
the creation of a mechanical adding machine
Which factor contributed most to the spread of the mathematical system developed in India during the Gupta Empire?
the travels of foreign merchants
the construction of universities
the spread of Buddhism by missionaries
the conquest of the empire by outside invaders
Which statement best describes how Buddhism and Hinduism differ on the concept of nirvana?
Unlike Hindus, Buddhists believe that nirvana can be achieved in our lifetime.
Unlike Hindus, Buddhists believe that there is a higher goal than achieving nirvana.
Unlike Hindus, Buddhists believe that only members of a high caste can achieve nirvana.
Unlike Hindus, Buddhists believe that the path to nirvana is too difficult for most humans.
Which of these words is the best synonym for the Hindu concept of dharma?
duty
unity
payback
punishment
Which statement explains why Emperor Ashoka had thousands of stupas built across India?
He wanted to prepare Buddhists to fight against persecution after his death.
He wished to support the spread of Buddhist worship throughout his empire.
He wanted to aid in the transfer of power from Hindu priests to Buddhist monks.
He wished to guarantee that his laws and edicts would last for thousands of years
Which of these phrases best describes the Mahabharata?
a sacred text describing the life and beliefs of Siddhartha Gautama
a philosophical work explaining the basis of the caste system
an epic poem that provides the basis for many Hindu beliefs
a history of India tracing the rise and fall of major empires
Which factor contributed most to Emperor Ashoka’s conversion to Buddhism?
his defeat in a major battle
remorse over his warlike ways
the efforts of Buddhist missionaries
the population’s support for Buddhism
What resulted from Emperor Ashoka’s conversion to Buddhism?
He banned the caste system.
He began persecuting Hindus
He began to rule India peacefully.
He was overthrown by Hindu priests.
The basic beliefs of Hinduism come from
the Vedas
the Mahabharata
the prophet Brahma
a mixture of Islam and Buddhism
Buddhism is based on the life and teachings of
an Indian warrior who conquered all of India
a Hindu prince who searched for enlightenment
a Tibetan monk who spread Indian religion to China
a Chinese ruler who believed in dharma and reincarnation
