Notes

What physical and geographical barriers made invasion of India very difficult?

Physical and geographic barriers that made invasion of India difficult were the Himalayas and Hindu Kush mountains and well as the Indian Ocean



What group of people were eventually able to invade India? How did they get there?

Aryans, Indo-Europeans, eventually were able to invade India through the Khyber Pass. Brought with them a caste system based on skin color.



What are the key characteristics and beliefs of Hinduism?

Beliefs in many forms of one god (polytheism), Reincarnation, Dharma, Karma, Vedas and Upanishads



What is reincarnation?

In Hinduism, Reincarnation is the rebirth of one’s atman based upon one’s Karma

The cycleof life and rebirth is known as Samsara



Explain the concept of Karma?

Karma is the sum total of your Good or Bad deeds. It is the knowledge that all actions result in future consequences (through reincarnation)



What are the sacred writings of Hinduism?

The Vedas and the Upanishads are the sacred writings of Hinduism

The Vedas contain the scriptures and verses while the Upanishads carry the meanings and interpretations.



Who founded Buddhism? Where was it founded?

Buddhism was found by Siddhartha Gautama in the Part of India that is now Nepal (Northern)



What are the Four Noble Truths?

All Life is Suffering 3. To End Suffering, we must end Desire

Suffering is the result of Desire 4. To End Desire, Follow the Eightfold Path



What is the Eightfold Path? Identify the eight steps.

The EightFold path was the “Middle Way” and how one would end suffering by ending desire.

Right View, Right, Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration



Explain the key characteristics and beliefs of Confucianism.

Belief that humans are good and not bad, Respect for Elders (Fileal Piety), Code of Politeness, Emphasis on Education,.Ancestor Worship, 5 relationships that helped with social harmony.



Explain the key characteristics and beliefs of Taoism (Daoism).

Humility, Simple Life and Inner Peace, Harmony with Nature. Their was a universal force (the way or Dao) that led people to where they needed to be.



What is the Great Wall? Why was it built? Who was responsible for its construction?

The Great Wall was a wall built in Northern China to protect it from invader’s from the North. It was built under the direction of Qin Shi Haungdi.



What idea was used by Chinese rulers to justify their rule? It lasted only as long as what?

Chinese rulers were considered divine, but they served under a Mandate of Heaven, where the right to rule came from the gods. In this system, they only ruled as long as their rule was just.



What symbol is used to represent opposites in both Confucianism and Taoism?

The Yin and Yang represent opposing forces in both Confucianism and Daoism

Light vs. Dark, Good vs. Evil, Etc.



What geographical term is used to describe the location of Greece?

Greece location can be termed as the Aegean Basin. It consists of the Aegean Sea, the Balkan Peninsula, and the archipelagos that make up Greece.

How did the mountainous terrain on the Greek peninsula affect its growth and unity?

Agriculture was limited due to mountainous terrain. Also prevented Greece from unifying under a central government. Greece developed as independent city states due to the terrain and how it separated them.