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

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

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.

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.

Aryan villages were governed by _______________.

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

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

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

Which is not true of the jatis caste system?

Over many centuries, the ______________ divided Indian society into groups based on a person’s birth, wealth, or occupation. Though varnas were not based on birth, eventually they merged with birth-based jatis. At one time, some 3,000 separate ___________ existed in India.

The Vedas, the Upanishads, and the other Vedic texts became the basis for _____________, the largest religion in India today.

Most Hindus believe in a single universal spirit called Brahman, which can come in many forms. While there are many gods and goddesses in Hinduism, there are three major gods who are commonly part of Hindu texts. Which of the below is not one of them?

Hindus believe that souls are born and reborn many times, each time in a new body. This process of rebirth is called ___________________.

The effects that good or bad actions have on a person’s soul:

The most sacred of all the pilgrimage sites in India is the __________________ in the northeast.

___________ spread because of the teachings of a man named Mahavira, an Indian prince who gave up his luxuries to become a monk. Followers live by four principles: injure no life, tell the truth, do not steal, and own no property. In order to not injure anyone or anything, they practice nonviolence (ahimsa).

Siddhartha Gautama became the Buddha, or the “____________________.”

In Buddhism, people can overcome their desires and ignorance and reach ____________, a state of perfect peace.

Missionaries are people who work to stop the spread of other religious beliefs.

____________ was started by _________ Nanak. The title _________ is Sanskrit for “teacher.”

__________ do not agree with many aspects of the caste system. In the __________, or kitchen, food is served without charge. Everyone sits on the floor together. Sitting on the floor together is a symbol of social ____________.

____________ is one of the most respected rulers in Indian history and one of the most important figures in the history of Buddhism. After he became a devout Buddhist, he stopped waging war and worked for years to spread the Buddha’s teachings.

Akbar’s ______________ tolerance allowed Muslims and Hindus in the empire to live in peace. In time, cooperation between the two groups helped create a unique Mughal culture. It blended Persian, Islamic, and Hindu elements.

The Mahabharata (muh-HAH-bah-ruh-tuh) and the Ramayana (rah-MAH-yuh-nuh) are examples of ____________________.