When did Homo sapiens first appear?
200,000 B.C.
Which method for determining the age of artifacts measures the rate of decay in atoms in volcanic rock?
potassium-argon dating
What caused prehistoric people to drastically change the way they lived?
climate change
What did improved farming techniques lead to?
division of labor
Which best defines history?
study of the human past and the story of change over time
Which kind of scholar studies objects left behind by humans?
archaeologist
What does the out of Africa theory maintain?
Modern humans originated in Africa and migrated to other parts of the world.
Which of these characteristics is not true of early hunter-gatherers?
They traded extensively with other communities.
What was the Neolithic Revolution?
a time when humans turned from hunting and gathering to farming
What happened as a result of humans settling down into agricultural villages?
Social roles and work definition began to change.
Why did a division of labor occur when people started to produce a surplus of food?
People were left with time to do other jobs.
Which was one result of the domestication of animals?
new division of labor between men and women
Which describes a characteristic of civilization?
trade and economic activity
Where did Sumerian priests make offerings to the Sumerian gods and goddesses?
ziggurats
What effect did the invention of writing have in the ancient world?
Information and culture spread to new places.
The invention of bronze in ancient Sumer was so significant because it __________.
improved agriculture and gave rulers more power
Which is a reason Sumer declined as a civilization?
Sumerian rulers fought to gain territory.
When the flooding waters of the Nile receded, what did they leave behind?
rich, black soil
Why did the Egyptians mummify their dead?
to preserve the bodies for use in the afterlife
Who united Upper and Lower Egypt?
Menes Narmer
What did scholars study to help them decipher hieroglyphics?
Rosetta Stone
How were scholars able to translate hieroglyphic symbols?
By comparing a message written in both hieroglyphics and Greek, scholars were able to translate the hieroglyphic symbols.
Which was a first step in the development of civilizations in both the Egyptian and Mesopotamian societies?
development of irrigation
Which river is associated with the settlement of ancient Egypt?
Nile
Who was the most powerful person in Egyptian society and government?
the pharaoh
Why did the Egyptians mummify their dead?
to preserve the bodies for use in the afterlife
What is the Rosetta Stone?
a carved stone that helped decode hieroglyphics
What was the purpose of the Book of the Dead?
to help people in their passage to the afterlife
Which best describes the Indus Valley civilization?
organizing cities well
From where did the soil in the Indus Valley receive its rich silt?
Indus River
Which most likely contributed to the decline of the Indus Valley civilization?
outbreak of disease
Why don't we have more information about the Indus Valley civilization?
Archaeologists and historians have been unable to decipher the Indus Valley writing.
Which was a result of the physical geography of ancient China?
isolation from other early civilizations
Why did the Yellow River flood so frequently?
The river carried enormous amounts of silt.
What is a dynasty?
a ruling family that remains in power for many years
Which legendary dynasty was started by Yu?
Xia
On what did Shang priests write questions for the gods?
bones
Which New Kingdom pharaoh outlawed the worship of many gods and established a new religion with one, all-powerful god?
Amenhotep IV
How were many of the New Kingdom pharaohs able to undertake such enormous building projects?
They used slave labor and the wealth they gained from tribute and trade.
Which is the best definition for empire?
an area or political unit in which formerly independent states are under the control of one ruler
Which was the most common method empire builders used to unite vast territories?
military conquest
How did Sargon raise money to pay his army and buy the loyalty of his supporters?
by controlling trade routes and taxing merchants
What was the significance of the Code of Hammurabi?
The laws were displayed throughout the empire for all to see.
Why did the Hittites migrate from central Asia to Mesopotamia?
They needed more land for growing populations.
Which pharaoh undertook enormous building projects, including Abu Simbel?
Ramses II
Which pharaoh established a new religion with one, new, all-powerful god?
Amenhotep IV
What did an abundant supply of slaves and the wealth from tribute, plunder, and trade allow Egyptian pharaohs and other rulers to do?
build huge monuments and temples and develop infrastructure
Which group of people conquered Egypt's New Kingdom, but kept many Egyptian customs?
Kushites
How did Darius of Persia maintain control over his empire?
He divided it into provinces and assigned satraps to govern them.
Which empire builder used tolerance to help maintain control over his empire?
Cyrus
Why did the Persian Empire decline in power?
Fights for the royal throne broke out and governors stopped following orders.
Which statement about Persian culture is true?
The Persians adopted whatever they found useful from other cultures.
Which were achievements of the Chaldean Empire?
Hanging Gardens of Babylon; Ishtar Gate; precise observations of the stars
In which way were the Assyrian and Persian empires alike?
They were both divided into provinces and had systems of communication.
Most scholars and scientists agree that modern humans originated on which continent?
Africa
When did descendants of modern-day humans first appear?
around 200,000 B.C.
Which scholar studies artifacts objects left behind by humans or human ancestors?
archaeologist
Which method do scientists use to track evolutionary changes over time?
DNA analysis
Which most directly helped early humans develop agriculture?
access to water
Why were the people in early farming communities able to focus on different kinds of work?
Improved farming techniques resulted in food surpluses.
Which best describes a result of division of labor in early farming communities?
Social roles began to change.
What did trade and interaction between villages result in?
greater knowledge
Which is a characteristic of civilization?
trade and economic activity
Why were early clans of hunter-gatherers not considered civilizations?
They did not have division of labor.
Why did the world's first civilizations develop in river valleys?
The land in river valleys supported agriculture.
Which civilization built ziggurats and used cuneiform to record information?
Mesopotamia
Which civilization built pyramids and mummified their rulers?
Egypt
Why is the Code of Hammurabi such an important factor in the development of empires?
Everyone in the empire could see the laws.
Which New Kingdom pharaoh built several large temples and monuments, including Abu Simbel?
Ramses II
What is the New Kingdom pharaoh Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten) known for?
establishing a new, monotheistic religion
Which civilization put home and family at the center of life and produced silk cloth?
China
Which describes accomplishments of the Persian Empire?
using governors and an infrastructure to maintain control
Which empire's accomplishments include the Ishtar Gate, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, and a knowledge of astronomy and medicine?
Chaldean
Which empire, forged by Hammurabi, produced the first code of laws available for all to see?
Babylonian
Which was not a method used by early empire builders to gain and maintain power?
building new temples
Which two groups migrated into modern-day Turkey and Iran from what is now southern Russia and later formed empires?
Hittites and Aryans
Which best describes why the Neolithic Revolution was such an important turning point in history?
People began to control their physical environment for the first time.
Who helped make Mali into a great Muslim Empire and transformed Timbuktu into a center of art and learning?
Mansa Musa
Which was a valued export from Songhai?
slaves
Which of these cultures was not located in West Africa?
Swahili
Which resource helped make Ghana wealthy?
gold
Which sentence best describes a way in which the cultures of East and West Africa were different?
West Africa was dominated by large kingdoms and East Africa was dominated by small societies.
What was the source of Great Zimbabwe's wealth?
Zimbabwe controlled trade routes that flowed to the East African coast.
How did Arab traders play a primary role in the development of East Africa?
Arab traders introduced Islam to Africa.
What was a key cause of the expansion of the African slave trade after 1500?
the demand for laborers in European colonies in the Western Hemisphere
Which Muslim empire was the largest in the world at its time, and continued to be a significant force even into the early twentieth century?
Ottoman
What was a characteristic of the Mughal ruler Akbar in terms of his attitude toward religion?
He practiced tolerance and inclusion, and invited religious debates.
Which Muslim empire became the largest empire of its time?
Ottoman
Which Muslim empire blended Arab, Persian, and Indian influences to form a unique culture?
Mughal
What action by Ming emperors greatly improved the transport of agricultural goods in China?
rebuilding of the Grand Canal
Which group overthrew the Ming Dynasty but left traditional systems in place to control the people of China?
the Manchu
Which sentence best describes a result of China's isolation from foreign contact?
China did not keep up with the technological advances that were sweeping Europe.
What role did the emperor play in the feudal system under the Tokugawa Shogunate?
He was a puppet of the shogun.
Why did the Tokugawa Shogunate close Japan to foreign influence?
The shogunate feared European powers might eventually try to control Japan.
Which was the most important factor in Ghana's rise?
the gold-for-salt trade
Which best describes Timbuktu?
a center of Islamic learning in Africa
Which best describes Songhai under Askia Muhammad?
a powerful trading empire that stretched from the Atlantic Ocean across much of West Africa
Which does not describe all three kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai?
They built large cities in the West African rain forest.
Which best describes the increase in the African slave trade after the fifteenth century?
the arrival of the Portuguese on the coast of Benin
Which best explains the spread of culture along East Africa's Swahili coast?
African culture mingled with traditions carried by Arab traders.
Which religion had a major influence on East African cultures after being brought there by foreign traders?
Islam
Which best describes the origins of the African slave trade?
The Portuguese were the first to capture Africans and sell them as slaves.
Which is the best explanation of Great Zimbabwe's rise to power?
Zimbabwe controlled the region's ivory and gold trade.
Which is not a possible explanation of Great Zimbabwe's decline?
the end of the slave trade
What key feature helped the Ottoman military defeat other armies in the region?
highly disciplined janissaries
Which was a result of the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453?
The city became an Islamic capital.
Which best describes a result of Emperor Süleyman's reforms of Ottoman law?
Religious freedom was allowed, with a tax for non-Muslims.
Which is not an explanation for the conflict between Ottomans and the Safavids?
the fall of Constantinople
Which allowed Akbar to govern the many people of the Mughal Empire?
religious tolerance and inclusion
Which represents a high point of achievement in Mughal architecture?
the Taj Mahal
Which was a positive change that occurred in China because of Ming Dynasty policies?
increased agricultural output
Which was not a key achievement of the Ming Dynasty?
the expansion of China's borders
Which allowed the Manchu of the Qing Dynasty to control China's people?
They retained traditional Chinese institutions.
Which was a result of China's isolation from the rest of the world during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries?
China's technology fell behind Europe's.
Which was a step that China's rulers took to limit contact with the outside world during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries?
They allowed foreign traders only in select ports.
Which best explains the Tokugawa Shogunate's rise to power in Japan?
The shogunate achieved military success by using gunpowder.
Which group ranked just below the shogun in Japan's feudal system?
daimyo
Which led Japan's Tokugawa shoguns to adopt a policy of isolation?
the rapid spread of Christianity
Which was not a result of Japan's isolation during the seventeenth century?
Japan lost all knowledge of European advances.
What did the Tang Dynasty do that helped conserve the traditional values of Confucianism?
It revived the civil service examination system of the Han.
Which of the following was not an innovation or invention of the Tang and Song dynasties?
glass lenses for telescopes
Which dynasty did Kublai Khan establish in China in 1279?
Yuan
Which correctly describes the extent of the Mongol Empire at its height?
It stretched from eastern Europe to the Pacific Ocean.
What did the Tang Dynasty do to try and make the government more efficient and effective?
brought back the civil service examination system
What form of literature flourished under the Tang Dynasty?
poetry
Which best describes the rising prosperity under the Song Dynasty?
An emphasis on agriculture and trade resulted in a better life for most.
Which would most likely be the subject matter of a Song Dynasty painting?
a detailed landscape of a mountain valley
Which is not an example of a technological achievement of the Song Dynasty?
waterwheel for irrigation
What was the Silk Road?
a vast network of trade routes that stretched across central Asia
The Silk Road was responsible for the movement of all of the following except __________.
democracy
How did the native people of Mongolia live?
as nomadic herdsmen
Which best explains how the Mongols under Genghis Khan were able to establish and maintain a large empire?
They were skilled horsemen who adopted new military technologies and used terror as a weapon.
Which describes a lasting legacy of the Mongol Empire?
the introduction of Islam into central Asia
Which is not an example of China's influence on early Korea and Japan?
Japanese and Korean governments were true meritocracies.
How did Japan's geography influence its inhabitants?
Many Japanese earned their living from the sea.
Which was not something the aristocracy did during the Heian period?
produced beautiful pottery and jewelry
Which group in Japan's feudal hierarchy was awarded land and was responsible for providing soldiers to fight in wars?
daimyo
Who was the first Germanic king to convert to what is now known as Catholicism?
Clovis
Who was proclaimed the new "emperor of the Romans" by Pope Leo III in the year 800?
Charlemagne
Which was not a way that Charlemagne promoted learning and education in Europe?
by defeating Germanic invaders
What happened to Charlemagne's empire after the death of his son?
The empire was divided among Charlemagne's three grandsons.
What was the purpose of the code of chivalry?
to prevent lawlessness
Who usually administered special church ceremonies, called sacraments?
village priests
During the early Middle Ages in Europe, who was subject to canon law?
everybody
Which is not an example of something the church used to influence medieval society?
the Eddas
Which is not true of the Church's role in the everyday life of most Europeans during the Middle Ages?
The church left education and learning to town officials.
Which is a reform the church made during the eleventh and twelfth centuries?
The church no longer allowed secular rulers to choose the pope.
Which statement best describes how the Crusades affected the relationship between Muslims and Christians?
The Crusades increased the bitterness and mistrust between the people of the two faiths.
Which statement describes one change that occurred in Europe during and after the Crusades?
The feudal system further eroded and a new middle class made up of tradesmen and merchants emerged.
Which institution kept learning alive in Europe during the Middle Ages?
the Christian church
How did the architecture of a Gothic cathedral reflect medieval values?
It helped worshippers learn Christian stories and feel closer to God.
What was the goal of the Crusades?
to take back the Holy Land from the Muslims
Which statement describes how the Crusades affected the relationship between Christians of the East and West?
The Crusades increased the divide between the two groups.
How was education and learning preserved in Europe during the early Middle Ages?
The Christian church preserved libraries and taught monks and others to read and write.
What was a key goal of cathedral architecture in the late Middle Ages?
to help people feel closer to God
What did William I do to increase his power in England?
He ordered a survey that enabled him to tax and govern his country effectively.
How did Henry II improve the English legal system?
He made sure legal rulings were written down so future judges had guidelines they could follow.
Magna Carta set England on a different path from France and other European monarchies. Based on this statement and your knowledge, how did the distribution of power in medieval England differ from that of medieval France?
It limited the power of the English king.
How did the distribution of power in medieval England differ from that of medieval France?
France did not develop an institution that could limit the power of the king.
What do most historians think was the source of the Black Death?
a bacteria carried in fleas on rats
How did the Black Death affect the population of Europe?
It killed more than one-third of the population.
What accusations did reformers in the late 1300s make against the church?
They accused the church and the clergy of corruption and materialism.
What two nations were the key participants in the Hundred Years' War?
England and France
Which statement best describes a factor that helped bring Europe to the brink of change by the end of the Hundred Years' War?
A series of crises had accelerated the end feudalism in Europe.
Which best describes China during the Tang Dynasty?
a golden age of stability and achievement
Under the Song Dynasty, farmers in China could use money instead of crops to pay their taxes. Which was the result?
Most farmers prospered.
Which is not an invention from the Tang and Song dynasties in China?
silk
Which was an important result of the trade of many goods on the Silk Road?
exchange of inventions and ideas
Which describes the Mongols' rise to power?
They conquered large parts of Asia under Genghis Khan.
How large was the Mongol Empire under Kublai Khan?
It stretched from the Pacific Ocean to eastern Europe.
Which culture had the most influence on the development of society in Japan?
Chinese
Which is a description of a shogun in feudal Japan?
military dictator
Which was a major event associated with Kublai Khan?
the invasion of Japan in 1274
Which was the result of barbarian invasions against the Western Roman Empire?
the weakening of Roman law and government
Which Germanic tribe emerged as the strongest following the fall of the Western Roman Empire?
Franks
Which king became the first Germanic ruler to convert to what is now known as Catholicism?
Clovis
Which helped the spread of both Roman Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity?
monasticism
Which was an important contribution of Benedict of Nursia?
founding a new monastic community and set of guidelines
What did Charlemagne do to try to unify western Europe after defeating the Saxons?
He forced the Saxons to convert to Christianity.
What happened to Charlemagne's empire after the death of his son?
The empire was divided among Charlemagne's grandsons.
Under Europe's feudal system, which people were tied to the land they worked, unable to leave without permission?
serfs
Which was supposed to prevent lawlessness and skirmishes between knights in Europe's feudal system?
the code of chivalry
Which best describes the influence of the church on medieval society?
It influenced nearly every aspect of daily life.
What did Pope Urban II hope to accomplish when he called for the First Crusade in 1095?
recapturing the Holy Land
Which leaders battled each other during the Third Crusade?
Richard I and Saladin
In which way did the Crusades have a positive effect on medieval Europe?
Crusaders returned to Europe with new ideas.
Which was an attempt to form a bridge between the philosophy of Aristotle and the teachings of the Christian church?
scholasticism
Which is Thomas Aquinas famous for?
being a great scholastic philosopher
How did the architecture of Gothic cathedrals reflect the importance of religion in medieval Europe
It was designed to lift the gaze toward heaven and fill the mind with thoughts of God.
What was the Domesday Book?
a survey of every town in England for tax purposes
Why did Adulis become such an important center of trade?
It was located on the Red Sea.
It was located on the Red Sea.
Chinese
How did the climate or geography of North Africa change between 10,000 B.C. and 1000 B.C.?
Rainfall gradually diminished and areas that were once grassy and forested became deserts.
What social structure was the foundation of Africa's earliest villages?
the extended family, or clan
What were two factors that caused the Bantu migrations?
desertification and depletion of the soil
What was the primary basis of Aksum's wealth?
They controlled extensive trade routes that connected many cultures.
What was a key reason for the growth of the Maya culture?
Mastery of agricultural techniques helped create a food surplus, which spurred a growth in population.
Which of the following is an element of Maya culture?
Maya cities were well-planned urban centers with roads, reservoirs, palaces, temples, and private homes.
How did Byzantium's (Constantinople's) location help the city economically?
It was a trade center conveniently located between Asia and Europe.
The Byzantine emperor was determined to extend Byzantine power across the __________.
Mediterranean Sea
Who was Theodora?
the empress who shared power with Justinian and worked on behalf of women and the poor
Which describes a major reason Constantine moved his capital to Byzantium?
He chose Byzantium for its strategic location.
Who was Justinian's most trusted adviser?
Empress Theodora
Which describes Justinian's Code?
a set of laws
Which cathedral did Justinian have built in Constantinople?
Hagia Sophia
Which best describes Byzantine culture?
It was a blend of Greco-Roman and Persian cultures.
Which best describes Justinian?
a powerful Byzantine emperor who reorganized the law and rebuilt Constantinople
Which of the following does not describe Byzantine culture?
It never spread beyond the borders of the Byzantine Empire.
Which group invaded the Slavic homeland beginning in the ninth century?
Varangians
What did Vladimir, prince of Kiev, do in 988 to help unify his people?
He converted to Orthodox Christianity.
Which best describes the influence of Byzantine culture on Russian culture?
It led to a flowering of art, literature, and architecture.
Which best describes the Golden Horde?
a group of Mongols who controlled Russian territory for more than 200 years
Which is not true about Ivan the Great?
He promised continued allegiance and tribute to the Tatar rulers of Russia.
Where was Muhammad born?
Mecca
Muslims consider Muhammad to be a __________.
prophet
When Muhammad began preaching to Arabs about Allah, what did he urge them to do?
practice justice, charity, and peace
The words and teachings of Muhammad were collected into a single book called the _________.
Qur'an
What are the religious duties of Muslims called?
Five Pillars of Islam
Which city did Muhammad return to and declare the holiest city in Islam?
Mecca
What is an Islamic religious center, or place of worship, called?
mosque
What connection does Islam have with Judaism and Christianity?
The God of Muslims, Christians, and Jews is one and the same.
What caused Islam to split into the Sunni and Shia branches?
the question of who should lead Muslims
All are true about the Umayyad Caliphate except __________.
it forced people it conquered to convert to Islam
Which two groups of people did Arabs share power with under the Abbasid Dynasty?
Persians and Turks
What result did the vast network of trade routes have on the Muslim Empire?
Islam spread and Muslims absorbed the legacies of Greek, Chinese, and Indian thought.
All of the following are true regarding expectations in Muslim families except __________.
women should have several husbands
What did every neighborhood in Muslim cities have?
a mosque
Which was a major contribution of Muslim culture to the study of medicine?
Ibn Sina's book, the Canon of Medicine
Muslim achievements include all of the following except __________.
inventing the arch
What made inland travel and trade difficult in Greece?
mountainous terrain
Which of the following best describes a Greek polis?
a capital city with its surrounding countryside and villages
Which cultural element below did Greeks city-states not share?
government
Who were the Mycenaeans?
Indo-Europeans who migrated to Greece
Which describes the geography of Greece?
rugged mountains
Which describes Zeus?
king of the gods
What is the Iliad about?
the Trojan War
Which polis is considered the birthplace of democracy?
Athens
What happened at the Battle of Marathon?
the Athenians defeated the Persians.
How did the people of Athens feel after the Persian Wars?
proud and confident
Which war was fought between Sparta and Athens?
the Peloponnesian War
How did Sparta turn the tide in its war against Athens?
by forming an alliance with Persia
What occurred in Greece following the decline of the Mycenaean kingdoms?
a dark age
Which does not describe Athens?
a place where the people focused so exclusively on war that they had little time for cultural pursuits
Why did the Persians go to war against Athens?
They wanted to punish the Athenians for supporting the Ionian revolt.
Which does not describe Pericles?
a ruthless leader ostracized by the citizens of Athens
Which is an accurate statement about Greek art and architecture?
Greek art and architecture are characterized by order, symmetry, and balance.
Which major theme did Aeschylus explore in many of his plays?
hubris, or excessive pride
What is Herodotus best known for?
He is called the father of history because he was the first writer who did research to determine the facts about historical events.
Which temple is considered the best example of the Greek ideals of order and balance in architecture?
the Parthenon
Who composed the Iliad and the Odyssey?
Homer
What did Herodotus and Thucydides establish as a field of study?
history
Who analyzed different forms of government in the Republic?
Plato
Why was Plato skeptical about democracy?
He believed uneducated masses could not make good decisions.
Who is known as the father of medicine?
Hippocrates
What two civilizations did Alexander the Great conquer as he built his empire?
Egypt and Persia
Which explains why Hellenistic culture spread so widely in the centuries following Alexander's death?
Rome adopted many Greek cultural elements, which spread during its conquests.
Which best describes a major cause of the Punic Wars?
Rome wanted to keep Carthage from completely taking over Sicily.
Which describes a change that occurred in Rome about 100 B.C.?
patricians were becoming wealthier and plebeians were becoming poorer.
How was the early Roman Republic founded?
Patricians overthrew an Etruscan king.
Which members of Roman society were a minority, but held most of the power in the early Roman Republic?
patricians
What was Rome's first set of written laws called?
Twelve Tables
Into how many branches was the government of the early Roman Republic divided?
3
What did Romans value the most during the early republic?
duty to the state
Which best describes why Rome went to war with Carthage?
Rome was concerned that Carthage wanted to extend its empire into Italy.
Which general crossed the Alps to attack Rome from the north?
Hannibal
Which was a condition that existed in Rome around 100 B.C. that contributed to the eventual downfall of the republic?
a widening gap between the rich and the poor
How was Julius Caesar able to defy the Senate, cross the Rubicon, and engage in a civil war with his enemies?
He had amassed a large, loyal personal army.
As Rome's first dictator, which did Caesar achieve?
lowered taxes and gave food and land to the poor
Who came to power after the death of Julius Caesar and eventually became Rome's first emperor?
Octavian
Actions by which body resulted in the fall of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire?
Senate
Which achievements during the Pax Romana helped unify the empire?
the standardization of language, coinage, weights and measures, and law
What was a significant result of the Pax Romana?
Roman culture thrived and spread throughout the empire.
How did Roman emperors try to keep Roman citizens happy?
They hosted entertainment and gave away free grain, oil, and wine.
Who is considered Rome's greatest poet?
Virgil
Which are examples of Roman achievements?
invention of the dome and concrete
Christianity had its beginnings in which Roman province?
Judea
Who first despised the Christian movement, but then later traveled to preach Jesus' message?
Paul
What did Constantine do that helped spread Christianity?
made Christianity a legally recognized faith
Which was NOT true of the early Christian Church?
Christian communities spread across the Roman world, but all followed a clear theology.
Which was a problem that the Roman Empire faced after A.D. 200?
a lack of strong leadership
What did Diocletian do in an attempt to address the problems the Roman Empire was facing?
He divided the empire into two sections.
Which was the primary reason that the Western Roman Empire fell?
invading tribes of barbarians
Which is considered Rome's greatest legacy?
ideas about law
Who is considered the father of the Hebrew people?
Abraham
What was a major difference between the religion of the early Hebrews and the religions of other early cultures such as the Sumerians and Egyptians?
The Hebrews believed in one all-powerful god who was present everywhere.
How did the Minoans and Phoenicians influence the cultures surrounding the Mediterranean Sea?
They established sea trade routes, which helped in the spread of ideas and goods.
Who is considered the patriarch of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam?
Abraham
What was a primary difference between Judaism and the belief systems of other early cultures?
The Hebrews believed in one god who was all powerful.
What sacred writings contain the religious beliefs of Judaism, including the Ten Commandments?
Torah
Which of the following best describes ethical monotheism?
belief in one god who requires people to be just and kind
Into what four castes was Hindu society clearly divided?
priests and educated people; warriors; merchants; workers
What sacred writings contain the religious beliefs of Hinduism?
Vedas
What was Siddhartha Gautama looking for when he set out on his spiritual quest?
the meaning behind suffering
Where did Buddhists build tall, multileveled towers called pagodas?
Japan and China
What religion did Asoka convert to?
Buddhism
Regarding religion, how were the Mauryan and Gupta empires alike?
They both showed tolerance for other religions.
Which is a key belief of Buddhism?
The cause of all suffering is desire.
Where did Buddhism spread in the centuries following the Buddha's death?
Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, and eastern Asia
What must happen for historians to consider a particular time in a civilization a classical period?
The civilization must make extraordinary achievements in areas such as art and science.
For what is Asoka mainly known?
promoting the Buddhist faith
Which empire or dynasty invented the zero, knew the earth rotated around its axis, and sponsored the work of authors writing in Sanskrit?
Gupta
Which empire or dynasty introduced the concept of the mandate of heaven, made great advances in iron technology, and invented a new form of portable money?
Zhou
Which best describes Confucianism?
a system of ethics that deals with morals and values in human conduct
Which best describes the influence of Confucianism?
It became a dominant philosophy in at least one-third of the world.
Which religion or philosophy focused on the individual's place in nature and the universe?
Daoism
How did Buddhism begin to spread outside of India during the Mauryan Empire?
Asoka sent missionaries abroad to spread Buddhism.
What resulted from the technological accomplishments of the Qin Dynasty?
China became more politically and economically unified.
How did Liu Bang's methods of ruling the empire differ from the methods used by the Qin Dynasty?
He was more lenient and was guided by Confucian ideals.
Which empire or dynasty emphasized unity of the empire, had government officials who had to pass a test, and saw the opening of the Silk Road?
Han
Which is an example of an extraordinary achievement accomplished during China's golden age?
the invention of paper
Which does not accurately describe Minoan civilization?
It left behind no artifacts for archaeologists to study.
Which is a Phoenician invention that influenced the Western world?
the alphabet
Which Hebrew leader guided his people out of Egypt?
Moses
Which does not accurately describe the religion of early Hebrews?
They believed in many gods and goddesses, associated with nature.
Which is a Jewish holy book?
Torah
Which is India's major religion?
Hinduism
In India's caste system, which group was considered the lowest caste?
Shudras
Which best describes the term classical period?
a period of great achievements in art, science, religion, philosophy, and politics
What was Siddhartha Gautama seeking when he began his spiritual journey?
an explanation for human suffering
Which is not a part of Buddhist religious teachings?
the Analects
What happened following the death of the Buddha?
Buddhist missionaries spread the new faith, first to Sri Lanka.
What was similar about the Mauryan and Gupta empires?
Both treated other religions with tolerance.
Which Mauryan ruler converted to Buddhism?
Asoka
What is not an achievement of the Gupta Empire during India's golden age?
paper
Which best describes the "mandate of heaven"?
the Zhou Dynasty's justification for its leadership
Which was the most important relationship, according to Confucius?
between parent and child
In Confucianism, which is not a feature of the ideal ruler?
absolute power
Which belief system gave us the yin-yang circle?
Daoism
Who took the title "The First Emperor"?
Qin Shi Huangdi
Which is not a way the first ruler of the Qin Dynasty maintained control over his empire?
He tolerated opposing views.
Which empire or dynasty witnessed the invention of paper?
Han
In conducting Internet research, which is not a factor in evaluating an online source?
Internet connection speed
When did Homo sapiens first appear?
200,000 B.C.
Which method for determining the age of artifacts measures the rate of decay in atoms in volcanic rock?
potassium-argon dating
What caused prehistoric people to drastically change the way they lived?
climate change
What did improved farming techniques lead to?
division of labor
Which best defines history?
study of the human past and the story of change over time
Which kind of scholar studies objects left behind by humans?
archaeologist
What does the out of Africa theory maintain?
Modern humans originated in Africa and migrated to other parts of the world.
Which of these characteristics is not true of early hunter-gatherers?
They traded extensively with other communities.
What was the Neolithic Revolution?
a time when humans turned from hunting and gathering to farming
What happened as a result of humans settling down into agricultural villages?
Social roles and work definition began to change.
Why did a division of labor occur when people started to produce a surplus of food?
People were left with time to do other jobs.
Which was one result of the domestication of animals?
new division of labor between men and women
Which describes a characteristic of civilization?
trade and economic activity
Where did Sumerian priests make offerings to the Sumerian gods and goddesses?
ziggurats
What effect did the invention of writing have in the ancient world?
Information and culture spread to new places.
The invention of bronze in ancient Sumer was so significant because it __________.
improved agriculture and gave rulers more power
Which is a reason Sumer declined as a civilization?
Sumerian rulers fought to gain territory.
When the flooding waters of the Nile receded, what did they leave behind?
rich, black soil
Why did the Egyptians mummify their dead?
to preserve the bodies for use in the afterlife
Who united Upper and Lower Egypt?
Menes Narmer
What did scholars study to help them decipher hieroglyphics?
Rosetta Stone
How were scholars able to translate hieroglyphic symbols?
By comparing a message written in both hieroglyphics and Greek, scholars were able to translate the hieroglyphic symbols.
Which was a first step in the development of civilizations in both the Egyptian and Mesopotamian societies?
development of irrigation
Which river is associated with the settlement of ancient Egypt?
Nile
Who was the most powerful person in Egyptian society and government?
the pharaoh
Why did the Egyptians mummify their dead?
to preserve the bodies for use in the afterlife
What is the Rosetta Stone?
a carved stone that helped decode hieroglyphics
What was the purpose of the Book of the Dead?
to help people in their passage to the afterlife
Which best describes the Indus Valley civilization?
organizing cities well
From where did the soil in the Indus Valley receive its rich silt?
Indus River
Which most likely contributed to the decline of the Indus Valley civilization?
outbreak of disease
Why don't we have more information about the Indus Valley civilization?
Archaeologists and historians have been unable to decipher the Indus Valley writing.
Which was a result of the physical geography of ancient China?
isolation from other early civilizations
Why did the Yellow River flood so frequently?
The river carried enormous amounts of silt.
What is a dynasty?
a ruling family that remains in power for many years
Which legendary dynasty was started by Yu?
Xia
On what did Shang priests write questions for the gods?
bones
Which New Kingdom pharaoh outlawed the worship of many gods and established a new religion with one, all-powerful god?
Amenhotep IV
How were many of the New Kingdom pharaohs able to undertake such enormous building projects?
They used slave labor and the wealth they gained from tribute and trade.
Which is the best definition for empire?
an area or political unit in which formerly independent states are under the control of one ruler
Which was the most common method empire builders used to unite vast territories?
military conquest
How did Sargon raise money to pay his army and buy the loyalty of his supporters?
by controlling trade routes and taxing merchants
What was the significance of the Code of Hammurabi?
The laws were displayed throughout the empire for all to see.
Why did the Hittites migrate from central Asia to Mesopotamia?
They needed more land for growing populations.
Which pharaoh undertook enormous building projects, including Abu Simbel?
Ramses II
Which pharaoh established a new religion with one, new, all-powerful god?
Amenhotep IV
What did an abundant supply of slaves and the wealth from tribute, plunder, and trade allow Egyptian pharaohs and other rulers to do?
build huge monuments and temples and develop infrastructure
Which group of people conquered Egypt's New Kingdom, but kept many Egyptian customs?
Kushites
How did Darius of Persia maintain control over his empire?
He divided it into provinces and assigned satraps to govern them.
Which empire builder used tolerance to help maintain control over his empire?
Cyrus
Why did the Persian Empire decline in power?
Fights for the royal throne broke out and governors stopped following orders.
Which statement about Persian culture is true?
The Persians adopted whatever they found useful from other cultures.
Which were achievements of the Chaldean Empire?
Hanging Gardens of Babylon; Ishtar Gate; precise observations of the stars
In which way were the Assyrian and Persian empires alike?
They were both divided into provinces and had systems of communication.
Most scholars and scientists agree that modern humans originated on which continent?
Africa
When did descendants of modern-day humans first appear?
around 200,000 B.C.
Which scholar studies artifacts objects left behind by humans or human ancestors?
archaeologist
Which method do scientists use to track evolutionary changes over time?
DNA analysis
Which most directly helped early humans develop agriculture?
access to water
Why were the people in early farming communities able to focus on different kinds of work?
Improved farming techniques resulted in food surpluses.
Which best describes a result of division of labor in early farming communities?
Social roles began to change.
What did trade and interaction between villages result in?
greater knowledge
Which is a characteristic of civilization?
trade and economic activity
Why were early clans of hunter-gatherers not considered civilizations?
They did not have division of labor.
Why did the world's first civilizations develop in river valleys?
The land in river valleys supported agriculture.
Which civilization built ziggurats and used cuneiform to record information?
Mesopotamia
Which civilization built pyramids and mummified their rulers?
Egypt
Why is the Code of Hammurabi such an important factor in the development of empires?
Everyone in the empire could see the laws.
Which New Kingdom pharaoh built several large temples and monuments, including Abu Simbel?
Ramses II
What is the New Kingdom pharaoh Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten) known for?
establishing a new, monotheistic religion
Which civilization put home and family at the center of life and produced silk cloth?
China
Which describes accomplishments of the Persian Empire?
using governors and an infrastructure to maintain control
Which empire's accomplishments include the Ishtar Gate, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, and a knowledge of astronomy and medicine?
Chaldean
Which empire, forged by Hammurabi, produced the first code of laws available for all to see?
Babylonian
Which was not a method used by early empire builders to gain and maintain power?
building new temples
Which two groups migrated into modern-day Turkey and Iran from what is now southern Russia and later formed empires?
Hittites and Aryans
Which best describes why the Neolithic Revolution was such an important turning point in history?
People began to control their physical environment for the first time.
