Buddha laid emphasis on righteous conduct and values because:

(i) The world is transient and constantly changing, it is also soulless as there is nothing permanent or eternal in it. It is by following the path of moderation between severe penance and self-indulgence that human beings can rise above these worldly troubles.

(ii) The righteous actions is the mean to escape from the cycle of rebirth and attain self- realisation and nibbana, literally the extinguishing of the ego and desire-and thus end the cycle of suffering for those who renounced the world.

The agricultural technologies followed by the Harappans were:

(i) Representations on seals and terracotta sculpture indicate that the bull was known, and archaeologists extrapolate from this that oxen were used for ploughing.

(ii) Terracota models of the plough have been found at sites in Cholistan and at Bannawali.

(iii) The fields had two sets of furrow at right angles to each other, suggesting that two different crops were grown together.

(iv) Water reservoirs found in Dholavira may have been used to store for agriculture.

The growth of Puranic Hinduism:

(i) It included Vaishavism and Shaivism in which there was growing emphasis on the worship of a chosen deity.

(ii) In such worship the bond between the devotee and the god was visualised as one of love and devotion, or bhakti.

(iii) In the case of Vaishnavism, cults developed around the various avatars of incarnations of the diety. Ten avatars were recognised within the tradition.

(iv) Some of these forms were represented in sculptures, as were other deities. Shiva, for instance, was symbolised by the linga, although he was occasionally represented in human form too.

According to Jainism:

(i) The cycle of birth and rebirth is shaped through karma.

(ii) Asceticism and Penance are required to free oneself from the cycle of karma.

(iii) This can be achieved only by renouncing the world.

(iv) Therefore, monastic existence is a necesary condition of salvation.

The ideal of patriarchy:

(i) While patriarchy had existed prior to the composition of the epic, the central story of the Mahabharata reinforced the idea that it was valuable.

(ii) Most ruling dynasties claimed to follow this system, although there were variations in practice.

(iii) The concern with patriarchy wes not unique to ruling families. It is evident in mantras in ritual texts such as the Rigveda.

(iv) It is possible that these attitudes were shared by wealthy men and those claimed high status, including Brahmanas.

Rules of marriage:

(i) While sons were important for the continuity of the patrilineage, daughters were viewed rather differently within this frame work. They had no claims to the resources of the household.

(ii) At the same time, marrying them into families outside the kin was considered desirable.

(iii) The belief of Kanyadan, the gift of a daughter in marriage was an important religious duty of the father.

(iv) The Dharmasutras and Dharmashastra recognised as many as eight forms of marriage. Of these, the first four were considered as good while the remaining were condemned.