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21 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
What is the 2nd most populous nation (after China) and 7th largest in area? |
India |
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Where is India located? |
South Asia |
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What is the capital of India? |
New Delhi |
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India is home to which of the world's oldest civilizations? |
Indus Valley |
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What happened when the Aryans invaded India in 1500 B.C.? |
Aryans intermingled with the local Dravidians -> Established foundations of Indian Society (caste system & Hinduism) |
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What is the official language of India, which is the 4th most widely spoken in the world and is used by 30% of the population? |
Hindi |
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What is a caste system? |
groups of people according to birth
an important facet of Hinduism |
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What are the classes in the caste system? |
Brahmins: priests Kshatriyas: warriors, rulers Vaishyas: merchants, farmers, traders Sudras: artisans, laborers, servants |
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Who are the Pariahs? |
Untouchables, outcasts, slaves (Dravidians)
called Harijans ("children of god) by Gandhi |
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Who is Mahatma Gandhi? |
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (Mahatma = "great soul")
instrumental in independence of India
developed nonviolent confrontation, or civil disobedience (satyagraha: "steadfastness in truth"
fought to improve status of the lowest in society |
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What language was used in ancient Indian literature? |
Sanskrit |
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What themes were Indian literature previously confined to? |
religion and philosophy |
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What is the earliest Indian literature, which was considered both philosophical and religious? |
The Vedas |
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What are the Vedas? |
sacred books of ancient Sanskrit hymns with accompanying comments
believed to have been revealed by Brahma |
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What do the Vedas consist of? |
Mantras: hymns
Brahmanas: doctrines and ceremonies
Upanishads: inspired set of commentaries on the Vedanta philosophy |
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What are the 4 kinds of Vedas? |
Rig Veda: 1000 hymns
Yajur Veda: rituals
Sama Veda: liturgies
Atharva Veda: spells, magic incantations, etc |
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What is the role of the trinity of Hindu gods? |
to maintain the rhythm of the universe |
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Who are the 3 gods included in the trinity? |
Brahma: creator Vishnu: preserver Shiva: destroyer |
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What do you call long narrative poems about the adventures of a hero where he/she reflects the country? |
Epics |
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What is the longest epic in the world? |
Mahabharata (8 times longer than the Illiad & the Odyssey combined) -> relates battle between the Kauravas
the 5 sons of King Pandu try to regain their control over the land after their uncle, the regent who ruled in the place of the princes since they were minors, wanted his sons to rule the kingdom |
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What epic is grand in plot, characterization, and style, with a wealth of wise sayings? |
concerns Rama (an incarnation of Vishnu) and his wife Sita; Rama's exile, Sita's faithfulness when tempted by Ravana, an evil spirit; and Rama's eventual destruction of Ravana |