Ancient India

Explain the urban-rural divide in Mature Harappan

- Cities existed, but majority of sites were still villages - Cities depended upon villages for food and labor - Manufacturing of products occurred in cities, goods traded into villages

what were the Methods of Subsistence in Mature Harappan?

Agriculture, Animal husbandry and hunting

who quoted chapters of Varahamihira work?

Al-Biruni (scholar of Abbasid Caliphate)

First of the major mathematician-astronomers from the classical age of Indian mathematics and Indian astronomy

Aryabhata

Controlled the entirety of Indian sub-continent Captures throne in Civil war, in which sources refer to Ashoka killing his 99 brothers, and only sparing one named Tissa Promoted and Spread Buddhism across Asia

Ashoka

what was the Kalinga War under the rule of Ashoka?

Between Ashoka's Mauryan Empire and Kalinga State Only war fought by Ashoka after his ascension to the throne Considered deadliest war in Indian history Ashoka converted to Buddhism because of the bloodshed of this conflict

Son of the Mauryan founder and father of the most famous Mauryan ruler Conquered all territory between eastern and western seas

Bindusara

what was Varahamihira most famous works that consisted of Encyclopedic work on architecture, temples, planetary motions, eclipses, timekeeping, astrology, seasons, cloud formation, rainfall, agriculture, mathematics, gemology, perfumes and many other topics?

Brihat Samhita

Credited with the unification of India under one ruler Greek sources suggest Alexander the great and this man met in person during Alexander's invasion of India Conflict with Seleucus I Nicator and the Seleucid empire Supporter of Jainism

Chandragupta

First used Maharajadhiraja - "king of great kings" Expansion of Gupta Territory Uncertain how he turned the small territory of the Gupta Kingdom into the vast Gupta Empire

Chandragupta I

Gupta territorial zenith achieved during his reign Adopted the name vikramaditya Technically a legendary emperor of Ancient India known for courage, generosity, and patronage of scholars

Chandragupta II

Explain the concept of Dharma in Hinduism.

Code of living that emphasized good conduct and morality

Explain the gradual process of de-urbanization in the Late Harappan phase.

Collapse of larger settlements. Harappan Civilization survived the collapse of cities. Rural Expansion - small sites take on more important role

what were the Rock and Pillar Edicts?

Collection of more than thirty inscriptions on the pillars, as well as boulders and cave walls, attributed to Emperor Ashoka Form the basis of Ancient Indian Society going forward

Explain the Great Expansion of Gupta Territory under the rule of Samadragupta

Conquered several kingdoms of Northern India and annexed their territories, Conquered along the Southeastern coast of India as well

Explain how Ashoka promoted and spread Buddhism across Asia

Considered an exemplary king and devout upasaka (follower of Buddhism) Redistributed Relics of the buddha

Explain the concept of Samsara in Hinduism.

Continuous cycle of life, death and reincarnation Atman - All living creatures have a soul, all souls are part of a supreme soul Moksha - Salvation, End of the continuous cycle of rebirths, rejoin with supreme soul

What was wrong with John Marshall's academic approach to outlining Harappan religion?

Criticized for working backward form later hinduism

What are the Sanskrit names of the Four Noble Truths and their English translations?

Dukkha (suffering, Samudaya (origin), Nirodha (cessation, ending), and Magga (path, Noble Eightfold Path)

what are the Chronological Phases of the Harappan Civilization?

Early Harappan - Proto-Urban Phase Mature Harappan - Urban Phase Late Harappan - Post-Urban Phase

The Harappan Culture originally refers to as the? Why did the name change?

Indus Valley Civilization. It was changed to reflect site where culture was first identified

What does the term Indo-Aryan migration refer to?

It refers to when indo aryan ethnic groups moved into the area of northern India

Classical Sanskrit author often considered ancient India's greatest playwright and dramatist

Kalidasa

Explain the serving works of Kalidasa

Kumārasambhava - basically talks about the birth of Kumara, the son of Shiva and Parvati Raghuvaṃśa - stories related to the Raghu dynasty, namely the family of Dilipa and his descendants Abhijñānaśākuntalam - Tells the story of King Duṣyanta who, while on a hunting trip, meets Śakuntalā, the adopted daughter of a sage, and marries her.

What are two examples of cities in Mature Harappan

Mohenjodaro and Harappa

What was the Vedas?

Oldest religion text in Hinduism

Name the Four Vedas in Hinduism (Use the Sanskrit Names)

Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda and Atharvaveda

explain the completion of Completed Ashvamedha under the rule of Samadragupta

Ritual (horse sacrifice), which was used by the ancient Indian kings to prove their imperial sovereignty

Name the four subdivisions within each Veda (Use the Sanskrit Names)

Samhitas, Aranyakas, Brahmanas, and Upanishads

What evidence proves that the Aryan invasion was an incorrect idea?

Some possible political or social reason

what was the writing and language of the Harappan Civilization

Spoken language unknown, undeciphered written language Language likely only understood by elite class

Who founded the original Gupta dynasty?

Sri Gupta

What is Nirvana in Buddhism?

State of liberation achieved when one has broken from the cycle of Samsara

Explain the purpose of the Eightfold Path (not the individual steps, but the general reason for its existence).

Summary of the path of Buddhist practices leading to liberation from samsara

Explain the concept of Karma in Hinduism.

Universal law of cause and effect

Hindu astronomer and polymath

Varahamihira

what are some ways that Harappan Sites are identified?

pottery, terracotta cakes, brick sizes