Traditions and Encounters, 4th Edition (Bentley)

Chapter 4: EARLY SOCIETIES IN SOUTH ASIA

Study Questions

1
Why is so little known about the Harappan society? What is it that we do know about the nature of that society?
2
How do historians and archeologists explain the decline of the Harappan culture?
3
How were the Indo-European migrants different from the cultures that already existed in India?
4
Trace the origins of the caste system, making sure to include a discussion of varna and jati.
5
Discuss the nature of patriarchy in early Indian societies. What is the Lawbook of Manu and how does it relate to gender roles?
6
What are the Vedas and what do they teach us about early Indian societies?
7
What are the fundamental religious teachings of the Upanishads?
8
How did the religious beliefs as expressed in the Upanishads dovetail with the social order during the Vedic age?
9
In what ways did the religion of the Upanishads include an ethical system?
10
How did the Dravidian and Aryan cultures blend during this period?
Traditions and Encounters Book Cover
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