The Story of India: Webquest Name _______________________________________ Date _________________ Agriculture http://www.pbs.org/thestoryofindia/gallery/photos/ 7.html 1. What role have the monsoon winds played in Indian history? 2. What is the importance of the Anicut Dam? What does its construction in the second century CE tell us about the Cholan Empire? 3. While modern agriculture continues to employ 2/3 of the Indian population, it serves as only one-fifth of the nation's GDP. What does this shift indicate about India's changing economy? Will agriculture diminish over time? Edicts http://www.pbs.org/thestoryofindia/gallery/photos/6.html 4. What purpose did the Ashokan pillars play during Ashoka's rule? Why do you think they would have been effective? 5. How did the possible meeting between Alexander the Great and a young Chandragupta influence the development of the Mauryan Empire? 6. In light of India's many religious traditions, why do you think Buddhism suffered a sharp decline in India after Ashoka? 7. What teachings of the Buddha are most relevant in today's world? Fine Arts http://www.pbs.org/thestoryofindia/gallery/photos/12.html 8. What are the fundamental differences between Hindu and Muslim art in India? 9. Why did so much gold flow into India during trade with the Roman Empire? How did the Indian use of gold differ from the Roman use? 10. How has art of the Kushan Empire influenced some modern representations of the Buddha? 11. Compare the two most recognizable forms of Indian Art, Mughal miniatures and Cholan Bronzes. How are they representative of the empires that produced them? 12. How have Hindu festivals been integrated into aspects of everyday life in Indian? Ganges http://www.pbs.org/thestoryofindia/gallery/photos/4.html 13. Why did the Ganges River become such an important part of Hinduism? How do Hindus show their reverence for the Ganges River? 14. The word Karma is often used in American popular culture. What are its Hindu origins? Is the adoption of religious concepts in a secular context disrespectful towards the original religion? 15. How are Hinduism and the caste system connected? While India outlawed the caste system at independence, why do problems persist? The Story of India: Webquest Indus http://www.pbs.org/thestoryofindia/gallery/photos/3.html 16. What have archaeologists found at Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro that indicate that the cities were part of an advanced civilization? 17. While the monsoon winds are an essential part of Indian trade and agricultural history, what problems can they cause? 18. In ancient times, climate change may have caused Indus Valley cities to have been abandoned. What changes to civilizations and cities might modern climate change bring? Religion http://www.pbs.org/thestoryofindia/gallery/photos/14.html 19. Why is a secular constitution important to the stability of India? Do you think that Indian stability would have been threatened with a religion-based government? 20.Hinduism includes thousands of different gods, each playing a different role. What does this tell us about the nature of Hinduism? 21. Which Hindu god fascinates you the most? Why? 22.Why are the stories of the gods so important? How do these stories compare to stories from the New and Old Testaments? Science http://www.pbs.org/thestoryofindia/teachers/discussion/website/ 23.Why do you think yoga has become so popular outside of India? 24.What aspects of Ayurvedic medicine are valued by many people in the United States? 25. Why were India's advancements in mathematics important? What aspects of math taught today in school originated in India? Trade http://www.pbs.org/thestoryofindia/gallery/photos/8.html 26.Why has India been an important center of trade? 27. What importance did spices play in the development of trade? What eventually ended the European demand for Indian spices? 28.What was the significance of Vasco da Gama's arrival in Calicut? 29.Who did the British East India Company employ to assist the company in its domination of India? 30.How might people of the United States react to a corporation being given the authority to govern another country?.