Name: ________________________________________ Date: __________________
Chapter 19, Section 4: Hinduism
Study Guide
Define: Using context clues, define the following key terms. DO NOT USE THE
GLOSSARY!
caste system: ____________________________________________________________
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reincarnation: ___________________________________________________________
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karma: _________________________________________________________________
nonviolence: ____________________________________________________________
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Complete: Use your text to answer/complete the following.
1. What group dominated the Indus Valley? ___________________________________
2. How were people divided into groups? _____________________________________
3. What are varnas? ______________________________________________________
4. Name the four main classes, or castes, the Aryans created: _____________________
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5. How can you tell that religion played an important part in ancient India?
__________
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6. Were people judged by caste? ____________________________________________
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7. Did people move from caste-to-caste? ______________________________________
8. Explain the Untouchables: _______________________________________________
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9. What were sutras? _____________________________________________________
10. What were some of the rules of the sutras? _________________________________
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11. How was the caste system a positive thing for Indians? _______________________
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12. What are the Vedas? __________________________________________________
13. What are some of the things described in the Vedic texts? _____________________
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14. What name is given to the final group of Vedic texts? ________________________
15. What is India’s largest religion? _________________________________________
16. What are the three main gods of Hinduism? ________________________________
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17. What is the universal spirit of Hinduism? __________________________________
18. According to Hindu belief, what is the name for a soul? _______________________
19. Approximately how many followers of Hinduism live in India? ________________
20. Explain why Hindus believe in reincarnation: _______________________________
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21. Explain the concept of karma: ___________________________________________
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22. What happens to a person with good karma? _______________________________
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23. When a person is thought to have too much bad karma, what happens to
him/her
upon death? _____________________________________________________________
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24. What is moksha? _____________________________________________________
25. How were Untouchables treated in death? __________________________________
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26. Why were women not allowed to study the Vedas? __________________________
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27. Who was responsible for helping women in India gain more rights? _____________
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28. Who are Jains? _______________________________________________________
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29. On whose teachings is Jainism based? _____________________________________
30. What prompted Mahavira to begin Jainism? ________________________________
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31. What are the four main principles of Jainism? ______________________________
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32. What is ahimsa? ______________________________________________________
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33. In what ways to Jains show respect to all living things? _______________________
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34. What is one of the most sacred sites for Hinduism in all of India? _______________
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35. From where does the Ganges River originate? ______________________________
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36. In what ways is the Ganges considered holy? _______________________________
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