Chapter 01
The Foundations of Complex Societies

Multiple Choice Questions
 
1. (p. 5) The first productive agricultural communities appeared in the 
A. first millennium B.C.E.
B. third millennium B.C.E.
C. sixth millennium B.C.E.
D. second millennium B.C.E.
E. fourth millennium B.C.E.

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Topic: The Transition to Agriculture
 
2. (p. 6) Homo sapiens evolved 
A. one million years ago.
B. five hundred thousand years ago.
C. one hundred thousand years ago.
D. two hundred thousand years ago.
E. forty thousand years ago.

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Topic: The Transition to Agriculture
 
3. (p. 6) Which of the following is given in the correct chronological order? 
A. Homo sapiens, Homo sapiens sapiens, Homo erectus, Australopithecus
B. Australopithecus, Homo sapiens, Homo erectus, Homo sapiens sapiens
C. Homo erectus, Homo sapiens, Australopithecus, Homo sapiens sapiens
D. Australopithecus, Homo erectus, Homo sapiens, Homo sapiens sapiens
E. Australopithecus, Homo sapiens sapiens, Homo erectus, Homo sapiens

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Topic: The Transition to Agriculture

4. (p. 7) The domestication of plants and animals is a hallmark of 
A. the paleolithic era.
B. the neolithic era.
C. the hominids.
D. Homo erectus.
E. the first Homo sapiens.

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Topic: The Transition to Agriculture
 
5. (p. 6-7) Which of the following can be best credited for the expansion of Homo sapiens communities throughout the world? 
A. land bridges
B. writing
C. hunting
D. farming
E. the work of the Greek historian Herodotus

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Topic: The Transition to Agriculture
 
6. (p. 7) A rapidly increasing population encouraged the development of new forms of 
A. social organization.
B. writing.
C. migration.
D. religion.
E. competition amongst different groups.

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Topic: The Transition to Agriculture

 
7. (p. 8) Çatal Hüyük is significant because it 
A. marks the beginning of human civilization.
B. marks the first human use of tools.
C. is the site of the first human use of agriculture.
D. is the site of the first city.
E. marks the first instance of the use of a land bridge.

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Topic: The Transition to Agriculture
 
8. (p. 8) The word Mesopotamia means 
A. the "pure land."
B. the "land of the strong."
C. "the blood of Gilgamesh."
D. "wedged-shaped."
E. "the land between the rivers."

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Topic: The Early Quest for Order
 
9. (p. 8) Which of the following is NOT a Semitic language? 
A. Hebrew
B. Phoenician
C. Aramaic
D. Sumerian
E. Akkadian

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Topic: The Early Quest for Order

 
10. (p. 9) The first complex society was developed in the southern Mesopotamian land of 
A. Akkad.
B. Assyria.
C. Sumer.
D. Babylonia.
E. Palestine.

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Topic: The Early Quest for Order
 
11. (p. 9) Eridu, Ur, Uruk, Lagash, Nippur, and Kish were all associated with 
A. Egypt.
B. Nubia.
C. Phoenicia.
D. Mesopotamia.
E. Jerusalem.

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Topic: The Early Quest for Order
 
12. (p. 9) A Mesopotamian stepped pyramid is known as a 
A. coptic.
B. eridu.
C. lugal.
D. lex talionis.
E. ziggurat.

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Topic: The Early Quest for Order

 
13. (p. 10) After 3000 B.C.E., most Sumerian city-states were led by 
A. kings.
B. councils of elders.
C. dictators.
D. assemblies of citizens.
E. military governors.

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Topic: The Early Quest for Order
 
14. (p. 10) The creator of the first empire in Mesopotamia was 
A. Hammurabi.
B. Moses.
C. Sargon of Akkad.
D. Gilgamesh.
E. Nebuchadnezzar.

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Topic: The Early Quest for Order
 
15. (p. 11) What individual believed that the gods had chosen him to "promote the welfare of the people . . . [and] to cause justice to prevail in the land"? 
A. Moses
B. Nebuchadnezzar
C. Hammurabi
D. Sargon of Akkad
E. Gilgamesh

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Topic: The Early Quest for Order

 
16. (p. 11) While Hammurabi's code was based on the principle that offenders should suffer punishment resembling their violation, it was also shaped by 
A. social standing.
B. the will of the Mesopotamian gods as expressed by the priestly class.
C. the language spoken by the accused perpetrator.
D. the age of the accused perpetrator.
E. the religion of the victim.

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Topic: The Early Quest for Order
 
17. (p. 11) The Babylonians eventually fell in 1595 B.C.E. to the 
A. Egyptians.
B. Hittites.
C. Sumerians.
D. Hebrews.
E. Akkadians.

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Topic: The Early Quest for Order
 
18. (p. 12) The later Mesopotamian people who built a large empire based on a powerful army led by professional officers chosen on the basis of merit and skill were the 
A. Hittites.
B. Hyksos.
C. Assyrians.
D. Babylonians.
E. Hebrews.

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Topic: The Early Quest for Order

 
19. (p. 12) A Babylonian resurgence of power was led in the sixth century B.C.E. by 
A. Nebuchadnezzar.
B. Ashurbanipal.
C. Solomon.
D. Sargon.
E. Hammurabi.

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Topic: The Early Quest for Order
 
20. (p. 12) Mesopotamian metalworkers discovered that if they alloyed copper and tin they could produce 
A. obsidian.
B. steel.
C. iron.
D. silver.
E. bronze.

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Topic: Forming Societies and Cultural Traditions in Southwest Asia
 
21. (p. 12-13) Iron metallurgy came to Mesopotamia from the 
A. Hebrews.
B. Hittites.
C. Phoenicians.
D. Egyptians.
E. Assyrians.

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Topic: Forming Societies and Cultural Traditions in Southwest Asia

 
22. (p. 13) The first people in the world to use wheeled vehicles were the 
A. Sumerians.
B. Assyrians.
C. Egyptians.
D. Phoenicians.
E. Hebrews.

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Topic: Forming Societies and Cultural Traditions in Southwest Asia
 
23. (p. 13) Evidence suggests that the Mesopotamians 
A. traded extensively with peoples as far away as Anatolia, Egypt, and India.
B. lived an isolated existence and did not trade.
C. traded exclusively with the Egyptians.
D. traded extensively until the time of the Assyrians, when trade dropped to nothing.
E. traded exclusively with the Phoenicians.

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Topic: Forming Societies and Cultural Traditions in Southwest Asia
 
24. (p. 16) In Mesopotamia, prisoners of war, convicted criminals, and heavily indebted individuals were the three main sources for 
A. slaves.
B. indentured servants.
C. dependent clients.
D. mercenary soldiers.
E. indentured priests.

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Topic: Forming Societies and Cultural Traditions in Southwest Asia

 
25. (p. 16) Mesopotamia developed into a 
A. strict patriarchal society.
B. society where the sexes enjoyed relative equality.
C. predominantly matriarchal society.
D. society with few social distinctions.
E. society dominated by a growing mercantile middle class.

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Topic: Forming Societies and Cultural Traditions in Southwest Asia
 
26. (p. 16) Conditions for women in Mesopotamia 
A. improved dramatically over the centuries.
B. reached their high point during the time of the Assyrians.
C. grew increasingly worse over time.
D. improved dramatically around 1500 B.C.E. when women were allowed to do away with the veil.
E. were always very good; women had tremendous personal freedoms.

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Topic: Forming Societies and Cultural Traditions in Southwest Asia
 
27. (p. 16) Sumerian writing is known as 
A. demotic.
B. cuneiform.
C. hieroglyphic.
D. coptic.
E. alphabetic.

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Topic: Forming Societies and Cultural Traditions in Southwest Asia

 
28. (p. 5, 17, 18) Enkidu was 
A. the Sumerian god of wisdom.
B. a leading Sumerian city-state.
C. the most powerful Babylonian king.
D. Gilgamesh's friend.
E. the Hebrew word for "holy."

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Topic: Forming Societies and Cultural Traditions in Southwest Asia
 
29. (p. 18) Monotheism was the distinct tradition of the 
A. Mesopotamians.
B. Egyptians.
C. Assyrians.
D. Hebrews.
E. Phoenicians.

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Topic: Mesopotamian Influence
 
30. (p. 18) The Israelites' belief that there was only one god had its origins with 
A. Abraham.
B. Moses.
C. Joseph.
D. David.
E. Solomon.

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Topic: Mesopotamian Influence

 
31. (p. 19) The first simplified alphabet, containing only twenty-two letters, was created by the 
A. Mesopotamians.
B. Assyrians.
C. Hebrews.
D. Phoenicians.
E. Babylonians.

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Topic: Mesopotamian Influence
 
32. (p. 20) Which of the following languages is NOT of Indo-European origin? 
A. Egyptian
B. Sanskrit
C. Old Persian
D. Greek
E. Latin

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Topic: Indo-European Migrations
 
33. (p. 21) The original homeland of the Indo-Europeans was probably 
A. Mesopotamia.
B. northern Germany.
C. southern Russia.
D. India.
E. Egypt.

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Topic: Indo-European Migrations

 
34. (p. 22) The most influential ancient Indo-European migrants into southwest Asia were the 
A. Assyrians.
B. Aryans.
C. Hebrews.
D. Babylonians.
E. Hittites.

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Topic: Indo-European Migrations
 
35. (p. 23) The construction of light, horse-drawn war chariots and the refinement of iron metallurgy were technological innovations of the 
A. Egyptians.
B. Assyrians.
C. Hittites.
D. Babylonians.
E. Hyksos.

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Topic: Indo-European Migrations

True / False Questions
 
36. (p. 6) The definition of Homo sapiens is "consciously thinking human." 
TRUE

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Topic: The Transition to Agriculture
 
37. (p. 7) The term for "new stone age" is neolithic. 
TRUE

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Topic: The Transition to Agriculture

 
38. (p. 8) Çatal Hüyük was a village in south central Anatolia with a population of around five thousand. 
TRUE

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Topic: The Transition to Agriculture
 
39. (p. 17-18) Gilgamesh is the hero of the oldest known epic. 
TRUE

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Topic: The Early Quest for Order
 
40. (p. 11) The powerful Babylonian king who formulated a sophisticated law code was Hammurabi. 
TRUE

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Topic: The Early Quest for Order
 
41. (p. 19) The first alphabet was created by the Phoenicians. 
TRUE

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Topic: Mesopotamian Influence
 
42. (p. 23) The Phoenicians were responsible for the construction of light, horse-drawn war chariots. 
FALSE

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Topic: Indo-European Migrations

 

Essay Questions
 
43. Are there drawbacks to the rise of complex societies? In other words, is every aspect of civilization good? Are there still problems today that stretch back to the rise of civilization? 
Answers will vary

Topic: The Transition to Agriculture
 
44. Examine the profound changes brought about by the discovery of agriculture. How did this seemingly simple discovery change the course of human history? 
Answers will vary

Topic: The Transition to Agriculture
 
45. Examine the changing world of the neolithic era. What were the foundations of this era? In what fundamental ways was it different from the preceding paleolithic era? In what ways were the accomplishments of this period setting the stage for the rise of complex societies? 
Answers will vary

Topic: The Transition to Agriculture
 
46. Explore the rise of the city. In what ways was the city different from the large villages of the earlier neolithic era? 
Answers will vary

Topic: The Transition to Agriculture

 
47. Examine the history of the Hebrews. Why did they have so much trouble uniting into a powerful political force? How did their wanderings and misfortune affect the development of Judaism? 
Answers will vary

Topic: Mesopotamian Influence
 
48. Examine the rise of the Mesopotamians. What were the political and cultural foundations of their society? Who were the most important leaders? 
Answers will vary

Topic: Mesopotamian Influence
Topic: The Early Quest for Order
 
49. Examine the reign of Hammurabi. In what ways was his reign the high point of Mesopotamian history? Explain the significance of his code. 
Answers will vary

Topic: The Early Quest for Order
 
50. What role did the Indo-Europeans play in history? What were their main contributions? 
Answers will vary

Topic: Indo-European Migrations

 
51. Examine the social structure of the Mesopotamians. Were there great divisions between the different social classes? How have the social distinctions changed since the period of prehistory? 
Answers will vary

Topic: Forming Societies and Cultural Traditions in Southwest Asia
 
52. What role did technological innovations and trade play in the rise of the Mesopotamians? What innovations led to turning points in the histories of these societies? How widely did they trade? 
Answers will vary

Topic: Forming Societies and Cultural Traditions in Southwest Asia
 
53. What were the major achievements of the Mesopotamians? How did these achievements influence later societies? 
Answers will vary

Topic: Mesopotamian Influence
 
54. Examine the creation of early methods of writing. How did this innovation influence the lives of the peoples of the ancient world? 
Answers will vary

Topic: Mesopotamian Influence

 
55. What does the Epic of Gilgamesh tell us about the worldview of the Mesopotamians? Why might there not be an Egyptian equivalent? 
Answers will vary

Topic: Forming Societies and Cultural Traditions in Southwest Asia
 
56. Compare and contrast the religious beliefs of the Mesopotamians, Egyptians, Hebrews, and Assyrians. What do the differences tell us about these societies? 
Answers will vary

Topic: Mesopotamian Influence
 
57. Examine the question of monotheism. Why was it such an unusual religious view in the ancient world? 
Answers will vary

Topic: Mesopotamian Influence