History 8: The Legacy of the Ancient World (2008-2009)
India
Homework Guidelines:
* All questions preceded by a single asterisk are intended to guide note taking.
**All questions preceded by a double asterisk and in bold are to be answered in a well-developed
paragraph on a separate piece of paper.
***You must design at least one complex question prompted by each reading assignment to be
submitted along with the rest of your written homework assignment.
I Foundations
A. Search for Order
**In-Class Activity
B. Geography of South and Southeast Asia
**In-Class Activity: Packet & Physical/Political Map of South & Southeast Asia
C. What is Religion?
pp. ix-xii
*In what ways are Eastern and Western religions different?
*What does the author mean by “popular belief” and “scholarly formulation”?
D. What is History?
**In-Class Discussion
II Order & Belief Systems: The Emergence of Hinduism
A. Early History and Religion of India
Handout
*Which of the “Ingredients of Human Societies” were present in the Indus Valley
Civilization?
**The Indus Valley Civilization is often referred to as the “cradle of Indian
civilization.” What do you think the term means? Do you think it is an appropriate
label for the Indus Valley?
**In-Class Activity: PowerPoint Presentation
B. Introduction to Hinduism
pp. 15-22
*Define/Identify: Sanatana Dharma, Brahman, Karma, Ganges River, Benares, Aryans
C. The Vedic Tradition
pp. 23-26; 30-33
*Define/Identify: Sanskrit, Veda, Rig Veda, mantra, Purusha, Aranyakas, Upanishads
*What are the Vedas and why are they important in Hinduism?
**In-Class Activity: Sage Sandilya’s Statement [Chandogya Upanishad]
D. Born Again! Karma and Samsara
pp. 33-37
*Define/Identify: karma, samsara, moksha, maya
**Given what you know about karma, is there no free will in Hinduism?
**Big Idea: How did and does Hinduism as a belief system provide order in Indian society?
III Order & Codes of Ethics: How Hindus Behave
A. Laws of Manu and the Caste System
pp. 47-53
*Define/Identify: caste, varna, jati, Manu, Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras,
Untouchables, Four Stages of Life
*Why do the parts of Purusha’s body become the specific castes?
*How do the beliefs of Hinduism justify the existence of the Untouchables?
B. Doing Your Dharma
pp. 53-57
*Define/Identify: Mahabharata, Bhagavad Gita, Krishna, Arjuna, dharma, ahimsa
*What are the main lessons that Arjuna must learn in the Bhagavad Gita?
C. Hindu Practices
pp. 72-76; 80-84
*Define/Identify: Brahma, Vishnu, avatar, Shiva, puja,
**In-Class Activity: Ganesha Video
**Big Idea: How did and does Hinduism as an ethical system provide order in Indian society?
IV Hindu Literature: The Ramayana (Read by September 29)
Begin with Book One on page 1. Read the introduction AFTER you’ve read the text. While reading,
keep in mind the following BIG ideas:
 “Ramayana” means “The Journey of Rama”. What type of journey is Rama on and why is the
title important?
 Why is Krishna willing to take human form as Rama?
 What role does dharma play and why is it so important?
 What role does karma play in the story?
 What role does evil play and is it clearly defined?
 What role does geography play in Rama’s journey?
V Alternatives to Hinduism: Buddhism
A. The Life and Times of Siddhartha Gautama
pp. 99-109
*Define/Identify: Buddha, sangha
*Describe the historical context in which Buddhism developed. Who were the critics of
Classical Hinduism? What were they upset about?
*Create a storyboard for a miniseries entitled “The Life of Buddha.” Be sure
to include a title.
B. Ethical Teachings
pp. 109-115
*Define/Identify: dukkha
*What are the four Noble Truths?
*What are the principles of the Eightfold Path?
*Who would be attracted to Buddhism and why?
C. Buddhist Beliefs
pp. 119-123
*Define/Identify: metaphysics, anatman, karma, samsara, nirvana, dharma, Buddha
Nature
**In what ways is Buddhism a descendant of Hinduism? In what ways is it a rejection of
Hinduism?
**Is Buddhism a religion? Why or why not?
VI Alternatives to Hinduism: Jainism
pp. 261-266; 270-271
*Define/Identify: Tirthankaras, Mahavira, ajiva, jiva, ahimsa, Jain Symbol
*Who was Mahavira?
**How does Jainism differ from Hinduism and Buddhism?
**Is Jainism a religion? Why or why not?