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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

Where is India located?

South Asia

What is the capital of India?

New Delhi

India is home to which of the world's oldest civilizations?

Indus Valley

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)

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

What is a caste system?

groups of people according to birth



an important facet of Hinduism

What are the classes in the caste system?

Brahmins: priests


Kshatriyas: warriors, rulers


Vaishyas: merchants, farmers, traders


Sudras: artisans, laborers, servants

Who are the Pariahs?

Untouchables, outcasts, slaves (Dravidians)



called Harijans ("children of god) by Gandhi

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

What language was used in ancient Indian literature?

Sanskrit

What themes were Indian literature previously confined to?

religion and philosophy

What is the earliest Indian literature, which was considered both philosophical and religious?

The Vedas

What are the Vedas?

sacred books of ancient Sanskrit hymns with accompanying comments



believed to have been revealed by Brahma

What do the Vedas consist of?

Mantras: hymns



Brahmanas: doctrines and ceremonies



Upanishads: inspired set of commentaries on the Vedanta philosophy

What are the 4 kinds of Vedas?

Rig Veda: 1000 hymns



Yajur Veda: rituals



Sama Veda: liturgies



Atharva Veda: spells, magic incantations, etc

What is the role of the trinity of Hindu gods?

to maintain the rhythm of the universe

Who are the 3 gods included in the trinity?

Brahma: creator


Vishnu: preserver


Shiva: destroyer

What do you call long narrative poems about the adventures of a hero where he/she reflects the country?

Epics

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

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