Question 1

Why were so many Egyptian records lost and so much of its history only know through carved stone?

Accepted Answer

Records in ancient Egypt were primarily written on papyrus, which is made from the stems of the papyrus plant. This material decomposes easily, and as a result, many records were lost over time. Carved stone was a more durable method of recording history, and as a result, much of Egypt's surviving history is only known through stone carvings.

Question 2

When pharaohs did not control vast regions in ancient Egypt,they were classified as "intermediate periods."  How are periods of strong governments in Egypt classified?

Accepted Answer

Periods of strong governments in Egypt are classified as kingdoms.

Question 3

Craftsmen and farmers,which formed the illiterate majority in Egypt,were important to the pharaoh because they

Accepted Answer

Craftsmen and farmers provided the pharaoh with part of their harvest and labor, which was important for sustaining the economy and the pharaoh's power. They also formed the bulk of the population and were therefore essential to the functioning of society. There is no historical evidence to suggest that human sacrifices or offering children to serve in the court or temple were common practices in ancient Egypt. Similarly, while soldiers were important to Pharaoh's power, farmers and craftsmen were not typically drafted into the army. Finally, serving on juries and judging cases was a responsibility reserved for the elite and educated classes in ancient Egypt, not the illiterate majority of the population.

Question 4

Hammurabi's Code contained all the following provisions concerning women except that

Accepted Answer

Hammurabi's Code, one of the earliest and most complete written legal codes, proclaimed by the Babylonian king Hammurabi, did allow women to inherit wealth, contrary to what option A suggests. The code included laws that protected women's rights in several aspects, including inheritance, divorce, and legal proceedings.

Question 5

Why was Ishtar important to the Sumerians?

Accepted Answer

The answer of  Why was Ishtar important to the Sumerians?
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Question 6

Egypt receives almost all of its water from

Accepted Answer

Egypt receives nearly all of its water from the Nile River, which flows through the country and supplies water for irrigation and domestic use. The other options listed (Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, and man-made dams) do not provide significant sources of water for Egypt.

Question 7

In conquering peoples of many different languages,religions,and traditions over a vast area,Sargon of Akkad developed the world's first

Accepted Answer

Sargon of Akkad formed an empire by uniting various city-states and peoples of different languages, religions, and traditions under his rule. This marked the first time in history that a ruler had achieved such a vast and diverse empire, establishing the world's first empire. A military state ruled by a governor, a state ruled by temple priests, a theocracy or a government with elected officials did not accurately describe Sargon's political structure.

Question 8

Who was credited with founding the First Dynasty,consolidating all of Egypt into a single kingdom approximately 3200-3000 B.C.E.?

Accepted Answer

Narmer, also known as Menes, is credited with founding the First Dynasty and consolidating all of Egypt into a single kingdom around 3200-3000 B.C.E.

Question 9

Which of the following terms is used to describe Egyptian writing?

Accepted Answer

Hieroglyphs were the writing system used in ancient Egypt. Sanskrit is a language of ancient India, Sumerian is a language of ancient Mesopotamia, Hittite is a language of ancient Anatolia, and Nubian is a language of ancient Nubia.

Question 10

In the ancient Mesopotamian religion,what was the most powerful deity?

Accepted Answer

The most powerful deity in ancient Mesopotamian religion was the storm god, who was associated with weather phenomena such as thunder, lightning, and rain. This deity was considered to be the strongest and most potent among the gods, as these natural forces were seen as incredibly powerful and awe-inspiring to the people of Mesopotamia. The storm god was often depicted with a bull or a lion, and was believed to be able to control the weather and bring prosperity or destruction to the land.

Question 11

The Great Pyramid was built between 2589 and 2566 B.C.E.because it

Accepted Answer

According to ancient Egyptian beliefs, the pharaoh's soul or life-force needed a place to reside after death. The Great Pyramid, built under the rule of pharaoh Khufu, was intended to serve as his tomb and house his life force.

Question 12

According to Egyptian belief,Ka was a life force in everyone's body.What sustained this force?

Accepted Answer

According to Egyptian belief, Ka was sustained by an individual's body energy, which was believed to be produced by maintaining a healthy and balanced lifestyle, including eating well and practicing physical exercise. Good works and contributions to the temple were important for ensuring one's place in the afterlife, but did not directly sustain the Ka. Obedience to the pharaoh and military service were also important in Egyptian society, but did not have a direct impact on the sustenance of the Ka.

Question 13

After the death of Hammurabi,who destroyed Babylonia in 1595 B.C.E.?

Accepted Answer

The Hittites, who were a powerful empire in Anatolia (modern-day Turkey), destroyed Babylonia in 1595 B.C.E.

Question 14

The characteristics of the Nile River include all of the following except

Accepted Answer

The Nile River does not flow west and east, it flows northwards.

Question 15

Enkidu was killed by the gods because he

Accepted Answer

Enkidu was killed by the gods as a punishment for killing the Bull of Heaven, which was sent by the goddess Ishtar to punish Gilgamesh after he rejected her advances. Enkidu and Gilgamesh together killed the bull, leading to Enkidu's death as divine retribution.

Question 16

What evidence is there,from this time,that war was frequent between city-states?

Accepted Answer

All of these choices are evidence of frequent war between city-states. The increasing numbers of bronze weapons suggest a need for increased military production and preparation. More artistic depictions of battle victories indicate a cultural emphasis on military glory and conquest. The high walls around cities suggest a desire to protect against attack and invasion. All of these factors taken together suggest a frequent state of conflict between city-states.

Question 17

Since the pharaoh was often occupied by ritual duties,who was the chief advisor to the pharaoh and the only person permitted to meet with him alone?

Accepted Answer

The vizier was the chief advisor to the pharaoh and was the only person permitted to meet with the pharaoh alone, as the pharaoh was often occupied by ritual duties. The high priest also held great religious authority, but did not have the same political and administrative responsibilities as the vizier. The eldest scribe and oldest sibling may have held positions of importance, but were not necessarily the chief advisor to the pharaoh. The pharaoh's mother may have held some influence, but did not have an official position as chief advisor.

Question 18

Sargon changed the language of government and daily life in his empire from Sumerian to

Accepted Answer

Sargon changed the language of government and daily life in his empire from Sumerian to Akkadian, which was his native language and the language spoken in his capital city, Akkad.

Question 19

An early version of Gilgamesh indicates that the king ruled with the assistance of

Accepted Answer

The answer of  An early version of Gilgamesh indicates that...

Question 20

Scribes were so valuable in Egypt because they

Accepted Answer

Scribes were responsible for keeping written records of important events, such as tax collection, crop yields, and trade. This information was crucial for the functioning of the government and the economy, making scribes incredibly valuable to Egyptian society.

Quiz 2: The First Complex Societies in the Eastern Mediterranean, ca 4000 - 550 BCE