Study Guide for Test on Hinduism and Buddhism
Key words – be able to define and/or locate
Hinduism:
Indus River
Ganges River
Hindu Kush
Himalayas
Aryan
Indus Valley Civilization
Harappa
Mohenjo-Daro
Sanskrit
Vedas (Rigveda)
Upanishads
Ramayana
Caste
Brahmin
Kshatriya
Vaishya
Shudra
Untouchable
Reincarnation
Brahman
Atman
Samsara
Dharma
Karma
Moksha
The Hindu Trinity – Brahma, Vishnu
and Shiva
Goddesses – Kali, Lakshmi, Sarasvati
Ethnic religion
Syncretism
Buddhism:
Siddhartha Gautama
4 Noble Truths
Therevada Buddhism
Mahayana Buddhism
Bodhisattvas
Tibetan Buddhism
Zen Buddhism
Tantric Buddhism
Pali
Proselytizing religion
Questions and key topics: Make sure you can write several clear sentences to answer/explain each:
Where is Hinduism most popular today?
If Hinduism doesn’t have a founder, how did it come into existence?
List and describe aspects of Hinduism particular to the Indus people and the Aryans.
Give concrete examples of the role of honor / virtue in the Ramayana
Be able to describe / explain in words and draw a diagram to explain the Hindu concept of reincarnation.
Be able to describe the caste system, why it is so enduring and conflict associated with caste in modern
day India
In which countries is Buddhism popular today?
Be able to describe the life of Buddha and his enlightenment
Be able to describe the 4 Noble Truths and put them in context by providing a modern day example.
Be able to clearly explain the differences between Therevada and Mahayana Buddhism
Why did Buddhism decline in India?
How and why did Buddhism spread outside India to China and other parts of E. Asia?
Be familiar with the material associated with the Buddhism in Bhutan video and be able to answer the
video questions
Be able to accurately compare and contrast Hinduism and Buddhism