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Name: _________________________________________ Date: ___________________ Hour: ___________
India, Hinduism, and Buddhism Review
1. What is a subcontinent?
A subcontinent is a landmass that is of great size, but is smaller than a
continent.
2. Why is India considered to be a subcontinent?
India is a subcontinent because it is a large landmass, but it is smaller than a
continent.
3. What is a monsoon?
A monsoon is a strong wind that brings heavy rain to southern Asia in the
summer.
4. Where were the earliest known settlements in India? Why did they settle there?
The earliest known settlements were near the Indus and Ganges river valleys.
They settled there because there was fertile farmland, a water source, and
flat land for farming.
5. Describe the Vedas in two or more sentences.
Possible Answers:
The Vedas are a collection of sacred Hindu texts. Once they were formally
written down, Brahmins were needed to interpret and read them. The Vedic
Religion, which is based on the Vedas, helped start the development of
Hinduism.
6. Ancient texts of India were written in what language? Sanskrit
7. Hinduism is polytheistic . (choose one: polytheistic, monotheistic, nontheistic)
8. Who is the founder of Hinduism?
There is no one founder of Hinduism. Hinduism developed slowly over time.
9. What caused the Vedic religion to transition into Brahmanism?
The Vedic religion transformed into Brahmanism once the Vedas were written
down. Brahmins, Hindu priests were needed to read and interpret the Vedas.
Name: _________________________________________ Date: ___________________ Hour: ___________
India, Hinduism, and Buddhism Review
10. Draw a simple diagram to represent the Indian caste system. Make sure your diagram
defines and labels the names of the social classes, and their role in society.
Drawings will vary, but they should have explanations/definitions for each
caste. Ask for student volunteers to show their drawings.
Here is a possible drawing:
11. How were people placed into the caste system?
People were placed into the caste system by birth.
12. Who were the Untouchables? Why did Untouchables live in separate communities?
Untouchables were people who had jobs or ways of life that many Hindus
considered lowly or dirty, like removing dead animals, handling garbarge. They
had to live in separate communities because they were thought to be “dirty”
and lowly by the other castes. Untouchables faced discrimination for years to
come, and still often do in India today.
13. Describe in two or more sentences what “dharma” means.
Dharma is one of the basic beliefs of Hinduism. It means law, obligation, and
duty. Many Hindus believe they have to follow their dharma to have a better
life when reincarnated. Part of their common dharma is getting married and
nonviolence to all living things.
Name: _________________________________________ Date: ___________________ Hour: ___________
India, Hinduism, and Buddhism Review
14. Describe in two or more sentences what “karma” means.
Karma is one of the basic beliefs of Hinduism. This is the belief that your
actions in one life will affect your next life. If one follows their dharma, that
will build up good karma for the next life.
15. In Hinduism, how does your karma affect your caste?
Building up good karma, by following your dharma, affects how you are
born in your next life. If you build up positive karma, you can be reborn
into a higher caste. Also, if you build up negative karma, by doing bad,
you can be reborn into a lower caste.
16. Draw a simple picture to represent how many Hindus see time.
Hindus see time as going in a circle, like a wheel.
17. What does “varna” mean?
This word means class or caste. So a Brahmin, or priest, is an example of a
varna because it is a level/social class in the caste system.
18. What does “varna dharma” mean?
Varna dharma means that each caste has its own duties and responsibilities.
For example, the Kshatriya caste were warriors. It was their duty to become
skilled with weapons.
19. What does “The Buddha” mean? The awakened one.
20. Which of these events took place at about the same time as the Buddha lived?
A. A cave wall was painted in southern France about 15,000 B.C.E.
B. Hammurabi began writing his code in Babylon in 1792 B.C.E.
Name: _________________________________________ Date: ___________________ Hour: ___________
India, Hinduism, and Buddhism Review
C. The Persians conquered Babylon and let Jews return home in 539 B.C.E.
D. The Romans destroyed the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 70 C.E.
21. Who was Siddhartha Gautama?
Siddhartha Gautama was a prince born in northern India in 563 BCE. He
rejected his life of luxury after learning about the three forms of suffering.
He was looking to end suffering and reach enlightenment. He believed one
should do this by following, “the middle way.” He founded Buddhism.
22. What are most Buddhist’s striving to reach? Enlightenment
23. Buddhism is Non-theistic. (choose one: polytheistic, monotheistic, nontheistic)
24. What are the three forms of suffering according to Buddhism?
The three forms of suffering are old age, death, and sickness.
25. What is an ascetic?
An ascetic is someone who gives up all worldly pleasures, like fine clothes,
money, and shelter.
26. According to Buddha, how could one reach enlightenment?
One could reach enlightenment by following the Eightfold Path, or the
Middle Way.
27. What are the Four Noble Truths?
The Four Noble Truths is a basic belief of Buddhism. They are the idea that
all things change, and that there will always be suffering as long as people have
desires. They claim that the only way to give up desires is by following the
Eightfold Path.
28. How is the Eightfold Path similar to the idea of dharma in Hinduism?
The Eightfold Path is similar to the idea of dharma because your dharma tells
Hindus how they should live their lives. They have certain things they have to
do to follow their dharma, like be non-violent and get married. The Eightfold
Path tells Buddhists how they should live their lives. It gives them advice
Name: _________________________________________ Date: ___________________ Hour: ___________
India, Hinduism, and Buddhism Review
about how to live well in order to reach enlightenment, like be kind to others,
don’t lie, remain nonviolent.
29. How were so many accomplishments possible during the Gupta Empire?
Many accomplishments were possible during the Gupta Empire because this
was a time of peace. Peaceful times allow people the luxury of thinking and
being creative.
30. What is a “Golden Age” for a society?
A golden age is a time of great prosperity and achievement for a society
because they have peace and quiet to think and inspire creativity and
inventions.
31. Which achievement of the Gupta Empire most encouraged long-distance trade?
The achievement of the Gupta Empire that most encouraged long-distance
trade was the building of roads. These roads had comfortable stops for
travelers—like wells to drink from--and were marked with signs to help
travelers.
32. Name three major accomplishments of the Gupta Empire.
Answers will vary. Some examples are:
1. Beautiful murals were painted in the Ajanta caves monastery by Gupta
painters.
2. Gupta metalworkers were famous for creating iron that did not rust.
3. Gupta mathematicians are responsible for creating the decimal and
numeral system that we use today.
4. Gupta sculptures created many beautiful sculptures of Buddha and Hindu
deities. These statues were often build to stand by themselves.