India Test Review

Geographic Regions of India

Region Description

Example: Coastal Plains

Flat land along the east and west coasts of India Fishing, trade, and farming occurred here

Mountains

Large, raised flat area found at the center of the country

Northern Plains

Separate India from rest of Asia

Himalayas, Hindu Kush

Natural barrier that limited contact with outside groups

Khyber Pass allowed for movement through the Hindu Kush

Plateau

Location of Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra Rivers

Silt from flooding made the soil fertile

Early civilizations developed here

Monsoons

• Seasonal winds

• Summer – Heavy rains,

warm air

• Winter– Cool, Dry air

Monsoons

• Brought rain needed for crops

• Led to flooding of rivers and creation of fertile silt

Indus Valley Civilizations

• Cities laid out in grid pattern • Uniform size of streets• Public works projects

– Sewage systems – Walls – Construction of city on elevated

platforms

The Aryans

• Khyber Pass• Pastoralists• Vedas

Hinduism • Karma

– All the deeds in a person’s life that effect the existence in the next life

• Dharma– The moral and religious duties that are expected of an

individual

• Reincarnation – The rebirth of the soul

• Moksha – The union of the Atman and the Brahman

• Atman – Individual soul of individual

• Brahman – The universal spirit

Hinduism

• Sacred Texts– Rig Veda – Upanishads – Mahabharata

The Caste System

Sudras(servants, laborers)

Vaishyas(herders, farmers,

merchants, craftspeople)

Kshatriyas

(warriors)

Untouchables

Brahmins(priests)

Non-Aryans

Buddhism

• Created by Siddhartha Gautama • The Four Noble Truths • Eightfold Path

– Path you live to reach Nirvana (enlightenment)

Quarterly Exam Review• Belief Systems

– Compare and contrast Hinduism and Buddhism

1) Eightfold Path

4) Dharma

2) Karma

5) Brahman

3) Reincarnation

6) Atman

7) Moksha

8) Nirvana 9) The Caste System

10) Four Noble Truths 11) No founder

12) Founded by Siddhartha Guatma

Maurya Empire

• Unite India • Buddhism • Pillars of Asoka

Gupta Golden

Age

Concept of Zero

Advances in

Astronomy

Decimal Point

Ajanta Cave

Paintings

Medical Advance

s

Use of Sanskirt