Name Date Assessment: The Achievements of the Gupta Empire 1. What happened on the Indian subcontinent in the time period between the Mauryan and Gupta empires? A. It went through a golden age. B. It experienced a great famine. C. It was filled with small kingdoms. D. It was conquered by the Sumerians. Mastering the Content Circle the letter next to the best answer. 2. How did the first Gupta ruler form alliances with other rulers? A. by giving them land B. by arranging marriages C. by killing them in battle D. by sending wise advisers 3. How was the Gupta Empire different from the Mauryan Empire? A. It got rid of the caste system. B. It was governed with harsh laws. C. It was made up of five kingdoms. D. It gave local areas a lot of independence. 4. Which factors in the Gupta Empire most helped the growth of learning? A. peace and stability B. poverty and hunger C. power and conquest D. change and rebellion 5. Which of these finds by an archaeologist would be evidence of a golden age? A. walled cities B. fine sculptures C. metal weapons D. animal skeletons
6. The images of Gupta kings on coins show that the empire had people who were skilled in A. writing literature. B. planning buildings. C. conducting warfare. D. working with metal. 7. How did individuals in the Gupta Empire learn the skills listed below? Question patients Make cures from bark and roots Stitch up wounds A. by making a palm-leaf book B. by praying to the deity of doctors C. by studying medicine at a university D. by journeying abroad with a merchant 8. What change took place in Hinduism during the Gupta Empire? A. Many of its laws were improved. B. Many of its legends were written down. C. Many of its complex rituals were abandoned. D. Many of its most sacred temples were destroyed. 9. Which is the best title for the list below? Puranas Mahabharata Bhagavad Gita A. Gupta Paintings B. Hindu Sculptures C. Buddhist Folklore D. Sanskrit Literature 10. The famous ancient paintings in a Buddhist monastery at Ajanta were painted on the A. walls of caves. B. robes of monks. C. covers of a book. D. ceilings of a temple. 11. In the Gupta Empire, what was an important use for all the following materials? Stone Wood Bronze Terra-cotta clay A. weapons B. sculptures C. cooking pots D. wheeled carts 12. Which sense correctly describes the level of technology in the Gupta Empire?
A. They did not yet know how to work copper. B. They used copper but did not yet know how to make bronze. C. They made bronze but did not yet know how to work iron. D. They had skill in working with iron. 13. Which feature of modern arithmetic came from ancient India by way of the Arabs? A. zero B. addition C. counting D. subtraction 14. Which of the following groups of people made it possible to construct complex buildings like this one? A. slaves B. monks C. astrologers D. mathematicians 15. Which achievement of the Gupta Empire most encouraged long-distance trade? A. astronomy B. large schools C. well-built roads D. large monasteries 16. Why were wells constructed along trade routes? A. so deities would be pleased B. so roads would not get muddy C. so travelers could cook and drink D. so merchants could pay for water
Applying Social Studies Skills Use the images and your knowledge of history to answer the questions. Write your answers in the space provided. 17. What details in the sculpture of Ganga suggest a river? 18. Which religious tradition does the sculpture of Ganga represent? How can you tell? 19. How does the sculpture of Buddha illustrate a Buddhist ideal or value?
Exploring the Essential Question: Why is the period during the Gupta Empire known as a golden age? 20. Suppose that you are organizing a group tour of highlights of India during the Gupta Empire. In the space below, either design a poster or write text for a booklet to advertise the tour. Follow these guidelines: Check ( ) one of the lines above to select either a poster or a booklet. Tell why the reader might want to sign up for your tour. Be persuasive. Identify three sites that will be included on the tour. Explain why they are interesting and important.