Question 1

What is unusual about the written language of the Harappan people?

Accepted Answer

A)  It consisted of only four hundred letters. 
B)  It was very similar to Sumerian cuneiform. 
C)  No one has yet deciphered it. 
D)  It was written on papyrus and silk. 
A)  It consisted of only four hundred letters. 
B)  It was very similar to Sumerian cuneiform. 
C)  No one has yet deciphered it. 
D)  It was written on papyrus and silk.

Question 2

What enabled India to make contact with the outside world in the sixth century B.C.E.?

Accepted Answer

A)  Alexander the Great's conquest brought knowledge of the Mediterranean world. 
B)  As the Persian Empire expanded, it made territorial conquests in the Indus Valley. 
C)  Great expansion of overseas trade by Indian merchants and a new merchant fleet led to outside contact. 
D)  Significant technological improvements in sailing led to greater communication and travel. 
A)  Alexander the Great's conquest brought knowledge of the Mediterranean world. 
B)  As the Persian Empire expanded, it made territorial conquests in the Indus Valley. 
C)  Great expansion of overseas trade by Indian merchants and a new merchant fleet led to outside contact. 
D)  Significant technological improvements in sailing led to greater communication and travel.

Question 3

How do the personal stories and ideas of Mahavira and Siddhartha compare, and how did their experiences influence their respective religions?

Accepted Answer

Answer would ideally include:
Both came

Question 4

In terms of India's geography, what regions have been home to its great empires?

Accepted Answer

A)  Fertile plains in the river valleys 
B)  Forests at the foot of the Himalayas 
C)  Deserts of the Rajasthan regions 
D)  Jungles of the Vindhya Mountains 
A)  Fertile plains in the river valleys 
B)  Forests at the foot of the Himalayas 
C)  Deserts of the Rajasthan regions 
D)  Jungles of the Vindhya Mountains

Question 5

Which of the following is associated with Jainism?

Accepted Answer

A)  Personal liberty 
B)  Gender equality 
C)  Democracy 
D)  Nonviolence 
A)  Personal liberty 
B)  Gender equality 
C)  Democracy 
D)  Nonviolence

Question 6

Use the following to answer questions :
-Jainism

Accepted Answer

A) Indian religion whose followers consider all life sacred and avoid destroying other life. 
B) Buddhas-to-be who stayed in the world after enlightenment to help others on the path to salvation. 
C) The eight-step code of conduct set forth by the Buddha in his first sermon, beginning with "right conduct" and ending with "right contemplation." 
D) The first Indian empire founded by Chandragupta. 
E) The transmigration of souls by a continual process of rebirth.
F)The codification of early Indian law that lays down family, caste, and commercial law.
G)The tally of good and bad deeds that determines the status of an individual's next life.
H)The dominant people in north India after the decline of the Indus Valley civilization; they spoke an early form of Sanskrit.
I)The unchanging ultimate reality, according to the Upanishads.
J)The first Indian civilization; also known as the Indus Valley civilization.
K)The earliest collection of Indian hymns, ritual texts, and philosophical treatises, it is the central source of information on early Aryans.
L)The Buddha's message that pain and suffering are inescapable parts of life; suffering and anxiety are caused by human desires and attachments; people can understand and triumph over these weaknesses; and the triumph is made possible by following a simple code of conduct.
M)The "Great Vehicle," a tradition of Buddhism that aspires to be more inclusive.
N)Priests of the Aryans; they supported the growth of royal power in return for royal confirmation of their own religious rights, power, and status.
O)The Sanskrit word for moral law, central to both Buddhist and Hindu teachings.
P)The Indian system of dividing society into hereditary groups whose members interacted primarily within the group, and especially married within the group. 
A) Indian religion whose followers consider all life sacred and avoid destroying other life. 
B) Buddhas-to-be who stayed in the world after enlightenment to help others on the path to salvation. 
C) The eight-step code of conduct set forth by the Buddha in his first sermon, beginning with "right conduct" and ending with "right contemplation." 
D) The first Indian empire founded by Chandragupta. 
E) The transmigration of souls by a continual process of rebirth.
F)The codification of early Indian law that lays down family, caste, and commercial law.
G)The tally of good and bad deeds that determines the status of an individual's next life.
H)The dominant people in north India after the decline of the Indus Valley civilization; they spoke an early form of Sanskrit.
I)The unchanging ultimate reality, according to the Upanishads.
J)The first Indian civilization; also known as the Indus Valley civilization.
K)The earliest collection of Indian hymns, ritual texts, and philosophical treatises, it is the central source of information on early Aryans.
L)The Buddha's message that pain and suffering are inescapable parts of life; suffering and anxiety are caused by human desires and attachments; people can understand and triumph over these weaknesses; and the triumph is made possible by following a simple code of conduct.
M)The "Great Vehicle," a tradition of Buddhism that aspires to be more inclusive.
N)Priests of the Aryans; they supported the growth of royal power in return for royal confirmation of their own religious rights, power, and status.
O)The Sanskrit word for moral law, central to both Buddhist and Hindu teachings.
P)The Indian system of dividing society into hereditary groups whose members interacted primarily within the group, and especially married within the group.

Question 7

Use the following to answer questions :
-samsara

Accepted Answer

A) Indian religion whose followers consider all life sacred and avoid destroying other life. 
B) Buddhas-to-be who stayed in the world after enlightenment to help others on the path to salvation. 
C) The eight-step code of conduct set forth by the Buddha in his first sermon, beginning with "right conduct" and ending with "right contemplation." 
D) The first Indian empire founded by Chandragupta. 
E) The transmigration of souls by a continual process of rebirth.
F)The codification of early Indian law that lays down family, caste, and commercial law.
G)The tally of good and bad deeds that determines the status of an individual's next life.
H)The dominant people in north India after the decline of the Indus Valley civilization; they spoke an early form of Sanskrit.
I)The unchanging ultimate reality, according to the Upanishads.
J)The first Indian civilization; also known as the Indus Valley civilization.
K)The earliest collection of Indian hymns, ritual texts, and philosophical treatises, it is the central source of information on early Aryans.
L)The Buddha's message that pain and suffering are inescapable parts of life; suffering and anxiety are caused by human desires and attachments; people can understand and triumph over these weaknesses; and the triumph is made possible by following a simple code of conduct.
M)The "Great Vehicle," a tradition of Buddhism that aspires to be more inclusive.
N)Priests of the Aryans; they supported the growth of royal power in return for royal confirmation of their own religious rights, power, and status.
O)The Sanskrit word for moral law, central to both Buddhist and Hindu teachings.
P)The Indian system of dividing society into hereditary groups whose members interacted primarily within the group, and especially married within the group. 
A) Indian religion whose followers consider all life sacred and avoid destroying other life. 
B) Buddhas-to-be who stayed in the world after enlightenment to help others on the path to salvation. 
C) The eight-step code of conduct set forth by the Buddha in his first sermon, beginning with "right conduct" and ending with "right contemplation." 
D) The first Indian empire founded by Chandragupta. 
E) The transmigration of souls by a continual process of rebirth.
F)The codification of early Indian law that lays down family, caste, and commercial law.
G)The tally of good and bad deeds that determines the status of an individual's next life.
H)The dominant people in north India after the decline of the Indus Valley civilization; they spoke an early form of Sanskrit.
I)The unchanging ultimate reality, according to the Upanishads.
J)The first Indian civilization; also known as the Indus Valley civilization.
K)The earliest collection of Indian hymns, ritual texts, and philosophical treatises, it is the central source of information on early Aryans.
L)The Buddha's message that pain and suffering are inescapable parts of life; suffering and anxiety are caused by human desires and attachments; people can understand and triumph over these weaknesses; and the triumph is made possible by following a simple code of conduct.
M)The "Great Vehicle," a tradition of Buddhism that aspires to be more inclusive.
N)Priests of the Aryans; they supported the growth of royal power in return for royal confirmation of their own religious rights, power, and status.
O)The Sanskrit word for moral law, central to both Buddhist and Hindu teachings.
P)The Indian system of dividing society into hereditary groups whose members interacted primarily within the group, and especially married within the group.

Question 8

India was both protected from invasions and yet open to trade with other civilizations. Which geographical features provided protection from invasions, and which fostered trade with other civilizations?

Accepted Answer

Answer would ideally include:
Oceans to

Question 9

The symmetry of the ruins of Mohejo-daro pictured here is indicative of the possibility that this settlement was

Accepted Answer

A)  started by a migratory people. 
B)  ruled by a power king or queen. 
C)  not typically in contact with outsiders. 
D)  well-planned. 
A)  started by a migratory people. 
B)  ruled by a power king or queen. 
C)  not typically in contact with outsiders. 
D)  well-planned.

Question 10

In the photograph "Gandharan Frieze Depicting the Buddha's Enlightenment," the serene appearance of Buddha, despite his being surrounded by enemies, is evidence of his having attained which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  Noble status 
B)  Eternal life 
C)  Enlightenment 
D)  Rebirth 
A)  Noble status 
B)  Eternal life 
C)  Enlightenment 
D)  Rebirth

Question 11

Which of the following was true of the Aryans?

Accepted Answer

A)  They were the native people of the Ganges Valley. 
B)  They were a warrior people who destroyed the Indus civilization. 
C)  They put an end to the strict Harappan caste system. 
D)  They spoke an Indo-European language. 
A)  They were the native people of the Ganges Valley. 
B)  They were a warrior people who destroyed the Indus civilization. 
C)  They put an end to the strict Harappan caste system. 
D)  They spoke an Indo-European language.

Question 12

What qualified Bodhisattvas to help guide Buddhist believers to enlightenment?

Accepted Answer

A)  They had already achieved enlightenment. 
B)  They were descendants of the Buddha himself. 
C)  They were once Brahmin priests before converting. 
D)  They could recite the most prayers from memory. 
A)  They had already achieved enlightenment. 
B)  They were descendants of the Buddha himself. 
C)  They were once Brahmin priests before converting. 
D)  They could recite the most prayers from memory.

Question 13

What Hindu text urges action in this world?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Sutras 
B)  Rig Veda 
C)  Ramayana 
D)  Bhagavad Gita 
A)  The Sutras 
B)  Rig Veda 
C)  Ramayana 
D)  Bhagavad Gita

Question 14

Who were the "untouchables" in the varna system?

Accepted Answer

A)  Women who belonged to the lowest caste 
B)  Outsiders who were considered "impure" 
C)  The nobility 
D)  Child slaves 
A)  Women who belonged to the lowest caste 
B)  Outsiders who were considered "impure" 
C)  The nobility 
D)  Child slaves

Question 15

Use the following to answer questions :
-brahman

Accepted Answer

A) Indian religion whose followers consider all life sacred and avoid destroying other life. 
B) Buddhas-to-be who stayed in the world after enlightenment to help others on the path to salvation. 
C) The eight-step code of conduct set forth by the Buddha in his first sermon, beginning with "right conduct" and ending with "right contemplation." 
D) The first Indian empire founded by Chandragupta. 
E) The transmigration of souls by a continual process of rebirth.
F)The codification of early Indian law that lays down family, caste, and commercial law.
G)The tally of good and bad deeds that determines the status of an individual's next life.
H)The dominant people in north India after the decline of the Indus Valley civilization; they spoke an early form of Sanskrit.
I)The unchanging ultimate reality, according to the Upanishads.
J)The first Indian civilization; also known as the Indus Valley civilization.
K)The earliest collection of Indian hymns, ritual texts, and philosophical treatises, it is the central source of information on early Aryans.
L)The Buddha's message that pain and suffering are inescapable parts of life; suffering and anxiety are caused by human desires and attachments; people can understand and triumph over these weaknesses; and the triumph is made possible by following a simple code of conduct.
M)The "Great Vehicle," a tradition of Buddhism that aspires to be more inclusive.
N)Priests of the Aryans; they supported the growth of royal power in return for royal confirmation of their own religious rights, power, and status.
O)The Sanskrit word for moral law, central to both Buddhist and Hindu teachings.
P)The Indian system of dividing society into hereditary groups whose members interacted primarily within the group, and especially married within the group. 
A) Indian religion whose followers consider all life sacred and avoid destroying other life. 
B) Buddhas-to-be who stayed in the world after enlightenment to help others on the path to salvation. 
C) The eight-step code of conduct set forth by the Buddha in his first sermon, beginning with "right conduct" and ending with "right contemplation." 
D) The first Indian empire founded by Chandragupta. 
E) The transmigration of souls by a continual process of rebirth.
F)The codification of early Indian law that lays down family, caste, and commercial law.
G)The tally of good and bad deeds that determines the status of an individual's next life.
H)The dominant people in north India after the decline of the Indus Valley civilization; they spoke an early form of Sanskrit.
I)The unchanging ultimate reality, according to the Upanishads.
J)The first Indian civilization; also known as the Indus Valley civilization.
K)The earliest collection of Indian hymns, ritual texts, and philosophical treatises, it is the central source of information on early Aryans.
L)The Buddha's message that pain and suffering are inescapable parts of life; suffering and anxiety are caused by human desires and attachments; people can understand and triumph over these weaknesses; and the triumph is made possible by following a simple code of conduct.
M)The "Great Vehicle," a tradition of Buddhism that aspires to be more inclusive.
N)Priests of the Aryans; they supported the growth of royal power in return for royal confirmation of their own religious rights, power, and status.
O)The Sanskrit word for moral law, central to both Buddhist and Hindu teachings.
P)The Indian system of dividing society into hereditary groups whose members interacted primarily within the group, and especially married within the group.

Question 16

What are priests referred to as in the Indian caste system?

Accepted Answer

A)  Brahmins 
B)  Jains 
C)  Buddhas 
D)  Shudras 
A)  Brahmins 
B)  Jains 
C)  Buddhas 
D)  Shudras

Question 17

Who was at the head of each Aryan tribal group?

Accepted Answer

A)  A raja or chief 
B)  A head priest 
C)  An assembly of tribesmen 
D)  A god-king 
A)  A raja or chief 
B)  A head priest 
C)  An assembly of tribesmen 
D)  A god-king

Question 18

According to the Upanishads, what is moksha?

Accepted Answer

A)  Human reincarnation as a lower animal 
B)  A cleansing fire ritual for women after childbirth 
C)  Release from the wheel of life and freedom from reincarnation 
D)  The cosmic tally of one's deeds 
A)  Human reincarnation as a lower animal 
B)  A cleansing fire ritual for women after childbirth 
C)  Release from the wheel of life and freedom from reincarnation 
D)  The cosmic tally of one's deeds

Question 19

Describe the essential teachings of Buddha. How did Buddhism modify Hinduism? How can we explain the appeal of Buddhism?

Accepted Answer

Answer would ideally include:
Buddha off

Question 20

What evidence in this photograph of the brick ruins of Mohenjo-daro reinforces the belief of some historians that no king or queen ruled over the people of Mohenjo-daro?

Accepted Answer

A)  The close-knit nature of the dwellings 
B)  The narrow passageways between structure 
C)  The absence of a large temple or palace 
D)  The relatively small size of the settlement 
A)  The close-knit nature of the dwellings 
B)  The narrow passageways between structure 
C)  The absence of a large temple or palace 
D)  The relatively small size of the settlement

Exam 3: The Foundation of Indian Society, to 300 Ce

What is unusual about the written language of the Harappan people?

What enabled India to make contact with the outside world in the sixth century B.C.E.?

How do the personal stories and ideas of Mahavira and Siddhartha compare, and how did their experiences influence their respective religions?

In terms of India's geography, what regions have been home to its great empires?

Which of the following is associated with Jainism?

Use the following to answer questions : -Jainism

Use the following to answer questions : -samsara

India was both protected from invasions and yet open to trade with other civilizations. Which geographical features provided protection from invasions, and which fostered trade with other civilizations?

The symmetry of the ruins of Mohejo-daro pictured here is indicative of the possibility that this settlement was

In the photograph "Gandharan Frieze Depicting the Buddha's Enlightenment," the serene appearance of Buddha, despite his being surrounded by enemies, is evidence of his having attained which of the following?

Which of the following was true of the Aryans?

What qualified Bodhisattvas to help guide Buddhist believers to enlightenment?

What Hindu text urges action in this world?

Who were the "untouchables" in the varna system?

Use the following to answer questions : -brahman

What are priests referred to as in the Indian caste system?

Who was at the head of each Aryan tribal group?

According to the Upanishads, what is moksha?

Describe the essential teachings of Buddha. How did Buddhism modify Hinduism? How can we explain the appeal of Buddhism?

What evidence in this photograph of the brick ruins of Mohenjo-daro reinforces the belief of some historians that no king or queen ruled over the people of Mohenjo-daro?

The Earliest Human Societies, to 2500 Bce

Complex Societies in Southwest Asia and the Nile Valley, 3800-500 Bce

Chinas Classical Age, to 221 Bce

The Greek Experience, 3500-30 Bce

The World of Rome, Ca 1000 Bce-400 Ce

East Asia and the Spread of Buddhism, 221 Bce-845 Ce

Continuity and Change in Europe and Western Asia, 250-850

The Islamic World, 600-1400

African Societies and Kingdoms, 1000 Bce-1500 Ce

The Americas, 3200 Bce-1500 Ce

Cultural Exchange in Central and Southern Asia, 300-1400

States and Cultures in East Asia, 800-1400

Europe and Western Asia in the Middle Ages, 800-1450

Europe in the Renaissance and Reformation, 1350-1600

The Acceleration of Global Contact, 1450-1600

The Islamic World Powers, 1300-1800

European Power and Expansion, 1500-1750

New Worldviews and Ways of Life, 1540-1790

Africa and the World, 1400-1800

Continuity and Change in East Asia, 1400-1800

Revolutions in the Atlantic World, 1775-1825

The Revolution in Energy and Industry, 1760-1850

Ideologies of Change in Europe, 1815-1914

Africa, the Ottoman Empire, and the New Imperialism, 1800-1914

Asia and the Pacific in the Era of Imperialism, 1800-1914

The Americas in the Age of Liberalism, 1810-1917

World War and Revolution, 1914-1929

Nationalism in Asia, 1914-1939

The Great Depression and World War Ii, 1929-1945

Review

Liberalization, 1968-2000s

The Contemporary World in Historical Perspective

20th Century Global Issues and Developments

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