Early Empires of India Study Guide
(With a small section on the terms learned during “Intro to Historical Terms” unit)
Key Terms & Ideas
Political
Economics
Social
Culture
Religion
Language
Geography
Technology
Primary/Secondary documents
Subcontinent
Monsoons
Indus Valley Civilization
Vedic Period
Aryan
Caste System/Four Varnas
Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas,
Sudras
Hinduism
Vedas
Upanishads
Epics – Mahabharata (Bhagavad Gita),
Ramayana
Samsara
Reincarnation
Dharma
Karma
Moksha
Atman
Brahman
- Trinity of Shiva, Vishnu,
Brahma
Monotheism
Polytheism
Manifestations of God
Buddhism
Siddhartha/Buddha
Four Noble Truths
Eightfold Path
Nirvana
Middle Way
Mauryan Empire
Chandragupta
Ashoka
Edicts
Gupta Empire
Essential Questions:
- How was life in ancient India affected by its geography?
- What are the major beliefs and practices of Hinduism?
- How do dharma, karma, samsara and moksha interact with one another?
- How did the caste system develop? How did it tie into one’s dharma?
- Explain the story of Siddhartha. How did it lead to the founding of
Buddhism?
- What are the major teachings of Buddhism?
- What were the major achievements of the Mauryan Empire? How did rulers
like Chandragupta and Ashoka unify India?
Review your… homework assignments, all in class worksheets/assignments,
textbook sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 8.3. Please see me ahead of time for any questions
and/or help with test prep!