Difference between revisions of "History 8 India Ancient India Workbook"
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One example of a catastrophe that could have wiped out an entire civilization was the removal of the prime water source, like in the Indus Valley civilization. The Sarasvati river was their only source of water. When nearby earthquakes caused landslides, those rocks clogged up the river. With the river clogged, water could no longer flow to the settlements. Without a constant source of water, they died. | One example of a catastrophe that could have wiped out an entire civilization was the removal of the prime water source, like in the Indus Valley civilization. The Sarasvati river was their only source of water. When nearby earthquakes caused landslides, those rocks clogged up the river. With the river clogged, water could no longer flow to the settlements. Without a constant source of water, they died. | ||
| − | (Source: The Manual for Cultural Foundations of Ancient Civilizations Pages 100-101) | + | (Source: The Manual for Cultural Foundations of Ancient Civilizations Pages 100-101: http://www2.sjs.org/beniretto/India/Chapter%208.pdf) |
This map may hold clues to another possible answer. It shows groups of people in Central Asia known as Indo‐Europeans. How does the map help to suggest their importance in world history? | This map may hold clues to another possible answer. It shows groups of people in Central Asia known as Indo‐Europeans. How does the map help to suggest their importance in world history? | ||
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This map helps to show the importance of the Indo-Europeans by showing where they went. They spread all over Europe, and into Asia. This shows that they now inhabit many historically important sites. This helps to support their importance because wherever they went, important things happened. One example of this is India. One theory as to the downfall of the Indus Valley civilization is that they were overrun by invading foreigners. The Indo-Europeans would have been foreigners to the Indus Valley people, so they may have been wiped out by the Indo-Europeans. | This map helps to show the importance of the Indo-Europeans by showing where they went. They spread all over Europe, and into Asia. This shows that they now inhabit many historically important sites. This helps to support their importance because wherever they went, important things happened. One example of this is India. One theory as to the downfall of the Indus Valley civilization is that they were overrun by invading foreigners. The Indo-Europeans would have been foreigners to the Indus Valley people, so they may have been wiped out by the Indo-Europeans. | ||
| − | (Sources: The Manual for Cultural Foundations of Ancient Civilizations Pages 97, 101; Case Studies and Primary Sources Workbook: Ancient India The Way We Saw It in Illustration and Art Page 7) | + | (Sources: The Manual for Cultural Foundations of Ancient Civilizations Pages 97, 101: http://www2.sjs.org/beniretto/India/Chapter%208.pdf; Case Studies and Primary Sources Workbook: Ancient India The Way We Saw It in Illustration and Art Page 7: http://www2.sjs.org/beniretto/India/Ancient%20India.pdf) |
[[User:Ahollway|Ahollway]] | [[User:Ahollway|Ahollway]] | ||
Revision as of 17:40, 27 March 2012
Return to History 8. Be sure that you sign your entry. Use only authoritative sources for external links.
Throughout its early history, the Himalayas helped protect India from outside invaders. How does this image especially make that dramatically clear? How does this photo help to show why such river systems were so important in the rise of the earliest civilizations?
Most Indians consider the Ganges River to be sacred. Why do you think they might have come to view it as sacred? What are monsoons, and why do they have such big impact on life in India?
Page 3
What can you tell about the geography and climate of this region from the poster alone?
The poster shows that India's land is fertile, largely coastal, and life-bearing. While it shows some signs of luxurious life, not everyone is wealthy judging by the patched up boat and sail. Trade was likely a large part of life and many citizens probably held jobs as sailors.
Historians say many of India’s older traditions and beliefs survived more in southern India than in the north. Why do you suppose that was so?
South India is relaxed and pluralistic. It contains more natives, and the Aryans did not invade that far south. It is bordered by water and is less exposed to other cultures.
What else about the geographical features of southern India might explain why it was able to stay more isolated from outside influence than other regions of India?
South India borders the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, and Bay of Bengal. It is protected by the Himalayan Mountains and Deccan Plateau. The natural defenses of the country protect India's important cities.
-Lucy Elkins-
Page 4
The Indus River civilization is one of four ancient civilizations shown here. From this map, what major geographical feature did these civilizations have in common?
What details seem to reveal the most about the ruins in Illustration?
What details are hardest to interpret?
2 A These ruins are a sign this was a complex, highly organized civilization. Why do you think they are evidence of this?
2 B Some archaeologists think that washing may have had religious or ritual meaning. What do you think they mean by that?
What else can you surmise about this aspect of the Indus River civilization?
Page 6
The seals were meant to be impressed and leave marks. That is, they were a form of writing. What uses can you imagine for seals of this sort?
Seals of this sort likely had a similar use for what they are used for today- to sign letters or documents or to indicate who a person is. They could have also had an important use in agriculture because they could have indicated who owned which animals or food products. Because they were meant to be impressed and leave marks they probably were meant to indicate ownership. It is possible the could havehad a form of religious significance possibly relating to the gods or the calendar.
Charmon Corrections RB
Page 7
Can you think of some examples of catastrophic climate changes or natural disasters that would have been serious enough to wipe out an entire civilization?
One example of a catastrophe that could have wiped out an entire civilization was the removal of the prime water source, like in the Indus Valley civilization. The Sarasvati river was their only source of water. When nearby earthquakes caused landslides, those rocks clogged up the river. With the river clogged, water could no longer flow to the settlements. Without a constant source of water, they died.
(Source: The Manual for Cultural Foundations of Ancient Civilizations Pages 100-101: http://www2.sjs.org/beniretto/India/Chapter%208.pdf)
This map may hold clues to another possible answer. It shows groups of people in Central Asia known as Indo‐Europeans. How does the map help to suggest their importance in world history?
This map helps to show the importance of the Indo-Europeans by showing where they went. They spread all over Europe, and into Asia. This shows that they now inhabit many historically important sites. This helps to support their importance because wherever they went, important things happened. One example of this is India. One theory as to the downfall of the Indus Valley civilization is that they were overrun by invading foreigners. The Indo-Europeans would have been foreigners to the Indus Valley people, so they may have been wiped out by the Indo-Europeans.
(Sources: The Manual for Cultural Foundations of Ancient Civilizations Pages 97, 101: http://www2.sjs.org/beniretto/India/Chapter%208.pdf; Case Studies and Primary Sources Workbook: Ancient India The Way We Saw It in Illustration and Art Page 7: http://www2.sjs.org/beniretto/India/Ancient%20India.pdf)
Page 8
From the hymn shown here, what sort of god do you think Indra was supposed to be?
Indra was supposed to be strong, protective, wise, and fair. The hymn says that he was the one who "protected the gods with strength," "made fast the shaken mountains," and he is the one who "by all things were made." It talks about him ruling with strength and wisdom and he was revered highly by the people.
What attitude towards the god does this hymn take?
The hymn shows that the people obviously revered and thought very highly of Indra. This is because it is praising him very highly and it says that he basically allows everything to be in existence. This was very important because the people of the time were very connected to nature and the natural world around them, so it is very likely that this was one of their most highly worshiped gods. Another way we can tell is just by the way they talk about him. They said, "The one who is first and possessed wisdom when born...he, O people, is Indra." The way they keep repeating about his greatness and his name signifies that they perceived him as a very powerful and fair god who was very important to the existence of everything on the Earth.
Many Hindus today believe Indra to be one of several forms taken by the Hindu deity Shiva. A 12th‐century CE statue of Shiva is shown here. What ideas about Shiva or Hinduism in general do you get from the way this statue is designed?
One of the traits that distinguishes the Indian gods from others is the number of arms and body parts that are on them. I think they do this mainly because they want to signify that gods are above humanly traits and are much more capable than we are. The amount of hands that are on the outside of the circle, the arms on the body, and the legs are all symbolizing that gods will always be more capable than humans. It is also an example of the legitimation of authority that the gods have because it shows that the gods, being so able, can protect and help us as well as destroy and punish us.
Sources: Manual compiled by Clay Elliot and Rosie Beniretto
Page 9
This photo shows bullocks being honored during a South Indian rice‐harvest festival. How does this suggest links between Hindu religion and India’s long agrarian past? What does this photo suggest about Hinduism and its relationship to India’s villages and traditional culture?
Ancient Indian religion and culture largely affected and still affects the way that the Hindu religion is practiced and followed. The tradition of the bull representing the harvest displays this continuity because this tradition has roots in ancient Indian culture that archaeologists have uncovered and determined that it came from an early and simpler stage in the history of the Hindu Darma. This means that that aspect, and possibly many others, have been incorporated into the current Hindu system of belief. - Michael Steiner
Page 10
As these photos show, even today life in much of India is not that different from what it was like at the time of the Aryans. How do these photos help to show that?
What, if anything, about them appears more modern? What seems traditional and likely to have been found in Indian villages centuries ago?
"'Page 11"'

Over time, Hinduism went beyond earlier Vedic beliefs to what some might call a more philosophical system of ideas. The drawing here depicts these deities—Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva (from left). How does this visual depiction express the notion that these are all different aspects of one another, and of Brahman?
The three statues depict the notion that they are all different many ways. They are three different statues that are dressed differently, which shows that they are different elements. The fact that they have the same face shows that they are similar but the difference in clothing shows that they are not the same.
Anna Brooks Pacha
Page 12
Castes were ranked by their supposed level of “spiritual pollution.” What do you think this means?
Three Brahmin priests are shown here taking part in the sacred thread ceremony marking the time when boys of the top three classes begin their education. What view of Brahmin priesthood to you get from this drawing?
Some say the Hindu idea of reincarnation makes the caste system less difficult to bear for those at the bottom of it. Do you think they are right? Why or why not?
