|
| 1. |
Focus Question: What were
the sources of Parthian and Sasanid strength? |
|
Which empire had the Parthians replaced? Why did the Parthians
rely more on Iranian traditions in religious and cultural affairs during
the last century or so of their rule? How did Parthian rule lay the
groundwork for the nationalistic emphasis of the Sasanids? How did
the Sasanids portray the Parthians? What were the major accomplishments
of Shapur and what internal problem was he never fully able to overcome?
Who was the main foreign opponent of Sasanid power for most of its history?
What was the basic unit of Sasanid society? Why were the Persians
and Byzantines so readily defeated by the Arabs? What were the four
classes of society recognized by Zoroastrian orthodoxy in Sasanid society?
What was the basis of the Sasanid economy? What were the great divisions
in Sasanid society and what caused it? Besides taxing agriculture, how
did the government increase its resources? What were the principal
elements of Sasanid aristocratic culture? Which foreign element was especially
strong in Sasanid culture?
|
| 2. |
Focus Question: What was the
nature of Sassanid Religion? What challenges did it face? |
|
What was the state religious orthodoxy under the Sasanids? Who
were the chief opponents of the state orthodoxy? What were the principle
teachings of Mani? What did Mani call his new religion, what was
it called by outsiders? According to Mani, whose apostle was he?
What was the fate of Mani? How did the priesthood increase
its power throughout Sasanid times? What prompted the Mazadakite
movement and from where did it draw many of its ideas?
|
| 3. |
Focus Question: What qualities
make Gupta India the "goldern age" of Indian civilization? |
| |
What period is considered the golden age of Indian civilization?
How did Gupta practices differ from that of the Mauryan empire in regards
to conquered lands? What was the main reason for the fall of
Gupta power? What was the fate of northern India after the fall of
Gupta power? In what areas, did Gupta culture excell? During
Gupta times, in which direction was culture generally transmitted?
According to Fa-Hsien, what was the main method of punishment in Gupta
India? What was one important index of Gupta culture? What
were the four basic Aryan varnas? How do jati groupings
differ from varnas? What are the three kinds of regulations governing
jati? What advantage has the caste system had in Indian history?
|
| 4. |
Focus Question: What are the
principle elements of Hindu and Buddhist religious practices? |
|
During Gupta and later times, what became the basic form of Hindu piety?
What gave rise to the bhakti strand in Hindu life? What was the major
contribution and central concept of Shankara? What are the main concepts
of Mahayana Buddhism? What is "paramount" in the Mahayana model of
the Buddha? What role do the bodhisattvas play? Who
is Buddha Amitabha and where was his cult strongest? How did Mahayana
Buddhists refer to Theravada practices? What is the focus of Theravada
Buddhist practice? What was the basis of Theravada piety and practice?
In what lands was Mahayana Buddhism strongest, in what lands was Theravada
strongest? What is Tantric Buddhism and where is the strongest? |
|
shahanshah
Chosroes Anosharvan
Avesta
Mani
Mazdak
Kalidasa
"Arabic numerials"
|