Ancient India: Assessment

What is the main focus of the "Big Ideas About Ancient India" section on page 214?

• The geography of India

• The importance of family roles and social classes in Indian society

• The history of Indian kings

• The climate of Ancient India

What were the broad social classes in Ancient India called?

• Dynasties

• Castes

• Tribes

• Empires

Which event happened first according to the timeline at the bottom of page 215?

• Chandra Gupta II begins to rule.

• Alexander the Great defeats Darius of Persia.

• The Nok people are using iron in West Africa.

• The Han Dynasty breaks apart.

What is the Saraswati River known for in history?

• It was always a well-known river with a clear path and a primary trade route for Aryans.

• It existed only in myth for many years and later people learned it disappeared entirely.

• It was the largest river in Asia and was discovered accidentally.

• It was famous for its gold mines.

What event may have caused the decline of the Saraswati River?

• A volcanic eruption

• An earthquake

• A drought

• A tsunami

Based on the background, what might have happened to a city built along the Saraswati after the river disappeared?

• The city would have become a major trade center.

• The city would have faced water and food shortages and possible decline.

• The city would have been unaffected.

• The city would have become a tourist attraction.

Which of the following best describes how geography affected life in ancient India?

• Mountains and seasonal winds shaped the climate and affected agriculture.

• The government controlled all farming activities.

• The culture was based only on trade with other countries.

• There were no natural barriers in India.

How did the earliest Indian civilization organize their cities?

• They built well-organized cities near the Indus River and organized them in a gridline pattern.

• They built cities in the mountains in order to remain hidden.

• They did not build any cities only small discrete towns.

• They built cities only in the desert to avoid invasion.

What happened when the Indian subcontinent collided with Asia?

• Mountains were pushed up where the two lands met.

• A large desert was formed.

• The climate became colder.

• The land sank below sea level.

How do the tall mountains affect the climate of India?

• They make the region colder by letting cold winds in.

• They block cold north winds protecting much of India from the winter monsoon.

• They cause frequent earthquakes.

• They increase rainfall in the winter.