Test Bank For History of World Societies Volume 2 11th Edition
By Wiesner Hanks 9781319059330 ALL Chapters .
The Harappans were the first people of the ancient world known to manufacture what trade good? -
ANSWER: Cotton cloth
According to the Vedas, what were the most important qualities to the ancient Aryans? - ANSWER:
Military skills and heroism
What developed in early Hinduism as an opportunity for ordinary people to worship their gods? -
ANSWER: Offering food or flowers to a god's image
Which of the following came into widespread use in India after the Persian conquest of the Indus
Valley ca. 500 B.C.E.? - ANSWER: The Aramaic script
What were some of the food items that were prominent in the Kushan trade with other parts of Asia
in the first century C.E.? - ANSWER: Cinnamon and pepper
Why have the flatlands of Rajasthan and southeastern Pakistan been so crucial to the history of the
Indian subcontinent? - ANSWER: The terrain allowed for invasions from the northwest.
At several moments in the history of the Indian subcontinent, invasions from the northwest have
crossed these areas and dramatically changed Indian culture.
Why did rulers of Aryan India support their subjects' embrace of the doctrines of samsara and karma?
- ANSWER: Aryan rulers thought that such beliefs would make the poor more docile.
Because these doctrines reinforced the idea that that improvement in one's life could only happen in
future lives, they discouraged the poor and oppressed from agitating for change in this life.
As Buddhism developed, what was the name of the Buddhas-to-be who helped others on their path
to salvation? - ANSWER: Bodhisattvas
Bodhisattvas, those who stayed in the world to help others, became objects of veneration. Eventually,
as the Buddha became deified, he sat at the head of a group of well-known bodhisattvas.
Which of the following factors significantly influenced Chandragupta's empire building, ca. 322 B.C.E.?
- ANSWER: Lessons learned from Persian rule
What kind of unity persisted in India after the collapse of the Mauryan Empire? - ANSWER: Cultural
Although India had different languages and religions, there was an overall cultural unity to the
subcontinent.
The earliest society on the Indian subcontinent developed along what river? - ANSWER: Indus River
The earliest evidence of civilization in India has been found along the Indus River and is known as the
Harappan.
Who had authority over an individual Aryan tribe? - ANSWER: Chiefs, known as rajas
Rajas ruled over Aryan tribes, although they might be advised by warriors.
What is one of the most important teachings of Buddhism? - ANSWER: Belief that pain and suffering
are an inescapable part of human life
Which of the following came to be widely used by the Indian people after the Persian conquest of the
Indus Valley ca. 513 B.C.E.? - ANSWER: Silver coins
During the Kushan period, what Western culture had a great impact on Indian art? - ANSWER: Greek
, The chief Harappan port of Lothal is known to have carried out extensive trade with what region? -
ANSWER: Mesopotamia
Lothal opened up to the Arabian Sea and connected Harappa to the Mesopotamian civilization, with
which the Harappans had extensive trade.
A person who was newly conquered by the ancient Aryans or had violated accepted ritual practices
was known as a(n) - ANSWER: outcaste.
If one was from outside the system or broke with it by violating rituals, one was "out" of the caste
system.
Sudatta, a lay follower of the Buddha, asks if he must "give up my wealth, my home . . . in order to
attain the bliss of a religious life?" The Buddha answers that anyone who "possessing riches, uses
them rightly, will be a blessing unto his fellows." From this exchange, what can we conclude about
Buddhist attitudes toward wealth and riches? - ANSWER: Those who use their riches wisely to serve
humans can transcend the trap of worldly concerns.
Wealth
What advantage did Indians gain from adopting coinage from the Persian Empire? - ANSWER: It
facilitated trade with the Persian Empire.
Which of the following statements describes India after the fall of the Mauryan Dynasty? - ANSWER:
Trade and intellectual development continued.
Indian trade expanded during this period, and intellectual advances continued.
Which of the following statements characterizes the geography of the Indian subcontinent? -
ANSWER: It has a variety of landforms and climates.
What relation did Sanskrit have to ancient Aryan culture? - ANSWER: Sanskrit was the language of the
Vedas.
The Bhagavad Gita offers Hindus guidance on which of the following? - ANSWER: How to balance
living in the world while seeking release from the cycle of rebirth
Through the stories of Arjuna and Krishna, the Bhagavad Gita offers examples of how to live in the
world and yet honor dharma and achieve release from the wheel of life.
What political development followed Alexander's invasion of northwest India? - ANSWER: A new
Indian empire, the Mauryan, soon developed.
The Mauryans took advantage of the crises caused by Alexander's invasion to expand their state.
What strength did India enjoy as a result of its cultural unity even in times of political disunity? -
ANSWER: The people of India continued to flourish.
A cultural unity based on the caste system, Hinduism, and its great epics gave India stability and
endurance.
Which is a problem for historians in studying the Harappan civilization of the Indus River Valley? -
ANSWER: Its writing system has not yet been translated.
We have examples of over four hundred symbols from the Harappans, but without the ability to
translate them, texts cannot be understood.
How did animal sacrifice and ritual change under the monopoly of the Brahmin priests? - ANSWER:
Correct sacrifice and proper ritual became increasingly important.
According to Buddhism, what is the problem with things that bring us pleasure? - ANSWER: We worry
about losing them.
Buddhism claims that even as we enjoy things, we worry about losing them, which causes us
suffering.
By Wiesner Hanks 9781319059330 ALL Chapters .
The Harappans were the first people of the ancient world known to manufacture what trade good? -
ANSWER: Cotton cloth
According to the Vedas, what were the most important qualities to the ancient Aryans? - ANSWER:
Military skills and heroism
What developed in early Hinduism as an opportunity for ordinary people to worship their gods? -
ANSWER: Offering food or flowers to a god's image
Which of the following came into widespread use in India after the Persian conquest of the Indus
Valley ca. 500 B.C.E.? - ANSWER: The Aramaic script
What were some of the food items that were prominent in the Kushan trade with other parts of Asia
in the first century C.E.? - ANSWER: Cinnamon and pepper
Why have the flatlands of Rajasthan and southeastern Pakistan been so crucial to the history of the
Indian subcontinent? - ANSWER: The terrain allowed for invasions from the northwest.
At several moments in the history of the Indian subcontinent, invasions from the northwest have
crossed these areas and dramatically changed Indian culture.
Why did rulers of Aryan India support their subjects' embrace of the doctrines of samsara and karma?
- ANSWER: Aryan rulers thought that such beliefs would make the poor more docile.
Because these doctrines reinforced the idea that that improvement in one's life could only happen in
future lives, they discouraged the poor and oppressed from agitating for change in this life.
As Buddhism developed, what was the name of the Buddhas-to-be who helped others on their path
to salvation? - ANSWER: Bodhisattvas
Bodhisattvas, those who stayed in the world to help others, became objects of veneration. Eventually,
as the Buddha became deified, he sat at the head of a group of well-known bodhisattvas.
Which of the following factors significantly influenced Chandragupta's empire building, ca. 322 B.C.E.?
- ANSWER: Lessons learned from Persian rule
What kind of unity persisted in India after the collapse of the Mauryan Empire? - ANSWER: Cultural
Although India had different languages and religions, there was an overall cultural unity to the
subcontinent.
The earliest society on the Indian subcontinent developed along what river? - ANSWER: Indus River
The earliest evidence of civilization in India has been found along the Indus River and is known as the
Harappan.
Who had authority over an individual Aryan tribe? - ANSWER: Chiefs, known as rajas
Rajas ruled over Aryan tribes, although they might be advised by warriors.
What is one of the most important teachings of Buddhism? - ANSWER: Belief that pain and suffering
are an inescapable part of human life
Which of the following came to be widely used by the Indian people after the Persian conquest of the
Indus Valley ca. 513 B.C.E.? - ANSWER: Silver coins
During the Kushan period, what Western culture had a great impact on Indian art? - ANSWER: Greek
, The chief Harappan port of Lothal is known to have carried out extensive trade with what region? -
ANSWER: Mesopotamia
Lothal opened up to the Arabian Sea and connected Harappa to the Mesopotamian civilization, with
which the Harappans had extensive trade.
A person who was newly conquered by the ancient Aryans or had violated accepted ritual practices
was known as a(n) - ANSWER: outcaste.
If one was from outside the system or broke with it by violating rituals, one was "out" of the caste
system.
Sudatta, a lay follower of the Buddha, asks if he must "give up my wealth, my home . . . in order to
attain the bliss of a religious life?" The Buddha answers that anyone who "possessing riches, uses
them rightly, will be a blessing unto his fellows." From this exchange, what can we conclude about
Buddhist attitudes toward wealth and riches? - ANSWER: Those who use their riches wisely to serve
humans can transcend the trap of worldly concerns.
Wealth
What advantage did Indians gain from adopting coinage from the Persian Empire? - ANSWER: It
facilitated trade with the Persian Empire.
Which of the following statements describes India after the fall of the Mauryan Dynasty? - ANSWER:
Trade and intellectual development continued.
Indian trade expanded during this period, and intellectual advances continued.
Which of the following statements characterizes the geography of the Indian subcontinent? -
ANSWER: It has a variety of landforms and climates.
What relation did Sanskrit have to ancient Aryan culture? - ANSWER: Sanskrit was the language of the
Vedas.
The Bhagavad Gita offers Hindus guidance on which of the following? - ANSWER: How to balance
living in the world while seeking release from the cycle of rebirth
Through the stories of Arjuna and Krishna, the Bhagavad Gita offers examples of how to live in the
world and yet honor dharma and achieve release from the wheel of life.
What political development followed Alexander's invasion of northwest India? - ANSWER: A new
Indian empire, the Mauryan, soon developed.
The Mauryans took advantage of the crises caused by Alexander's invasion to expand their state.
What strength did India enjoy as a result of its cultural unity even in times of political disunity? -
ANSWER: The people of India continued to flourish.
A cultural unity based on the caste system, Hinduism, and its great epics gave India stability and
endurance.
Which is a problem for historians in studying the Harappan civilization of the Indus River Valley? -
ANSWER: Its writing system has not yet been translated.
We have examples of over four hundred symbols from the Harappans, but without the ability to
translate them, texts cannot be understood.
How did animal sacrifice and ritual change under the monopoly of the Brahmin priests? - ANSWER:
Correct sacrifice and proper ritual became increasingly important.
According to Buddhism, what is the problem with things that bring us pleasure? - ANSWER: We worry
about losing them.
Buddhism claims that even as we enjoy things, we worry about losing them, which causes us
suffering.
