Question 1

What is the importance of Anyang to Chinese history?

Accepted Answer

Anyang was the capital of the Late Shang Dynasty (1200-1045 B.C.) and the oldest known city in China. It is distinguished by its fine bronzes and elaborate burials that show ample evidence of social inequality. Huge numbers of inscribed oracle bones found at the site are the earliest record of systematic Chinese writing.

Question 2

What was Chinese society like in the area of Anyang before Anyang?

Accepted Answer

Before Anyang gained power, the Yi-Lou Valley was an important area. The site of Erlitou may have been the capital of the Xia Dynasty between 1800 and 1600 B.C. The site had two large palaces, and many elite grave goods have been recovered, including bronze ritual vessels and jade. At the same time the site of Shaochia existed, though in a somewhat secondary role to Erlitou. Yanshi is another site in the area that arose after the downfall of Erlitou. Before even Erlitou, Shaochia, and Yanshi, the area had large village settlements that correlated with the Early Longshan period. Archaeologists have identified a four-tier settlement hierarchy from urban centers to villages.

Question 3

How has the Three Gorges Dam project threatened Chinese archaeology?

Accepted Answer

The project is intended to generate power and to control flooding on the Yangze River. The dam will ultimately displace over 1 million people and will lead to the flooding of hundreds of archaeological sites. This is only one example of the many dam projects around the world that destroy archaeological sites which, by their very nature, are nonrenewable resources.

Question 4

How did the Silk Route influence the development of complex societies in southern Asia?

Accepted Answer

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Question 5

What is the significance of the great city of Angkor?

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Question 6

Discuss the rise and fall of Harappan society.

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Question 7

What is distinctive about the Harappan script?

Accepted Answer

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Question 8

What is the significance of the mummified remains found in the Tarim Basin?

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Question 9

Discuss the collapse of the Harappan civilization.

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Question 10

What characterizes Harappan cities?

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Question 11

What evidence is there for social inequality in Harappan society?

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Question 12

The Harappan civilization developed in the Ghaggar-Hakra River valley in Pakistan.

Accepted Answer

The Harappan civilization, also known as the Indus Valley Civilization, primarily developed in the Indus River valley, which is now in modern-day Pakistan and northwest India. The Ghaggar-Hakra River is believed to be a part of this civilization's area, but it is not the primary river associated with it.

Question 13

The Southern Silk Route spread ideas as well as commerce throughout southern Asia.

Accepted Answer

The Southern Silk Route was not just a trade route, but also facilitated the exchange of ideas, culture, and religion across southern Asia.

Question 14

State societies in China can trace their roots to pre-Shang Dynasty.

Accepted Answer

State societies in China can indeed trace their roots to pre-Shang Dynasty, which was around 1600 to 1046 BCE. This period saw the emergence of early forms of Chinese state society, with the development of agriculture, trade, and social hierarchy. The Shang Dynasty that followed was marked by the consolidation of political power, the creation of a centralized government, and the flourishing of Chinese culture and civilization.

Question 15

The emphasis on feasting during the Shang Dynasty indicates an egalitarian social structure.

Accepted Answer

The emphasis on feasting during the Shang Dynasty actually suggests a hierarchical social structure, where the king and nobles had greater access to resources and luxury goods.

Question 16

Harappan cities, while large, show almost no sign of urban planning in their construction.

Accepted Answer

Harappan cities, such as Mohenjo-daro and Harappa, show evidence of carefully planned layouts, including grid patterns of streets, well-organized drainage systems, and large public buildings.

Question 17

Mass warfare led to Harappan decline.

Accepted Answer

The decline of the Harappan civilization is still a mystery and there is no conclusive evidence that mass warfare was the sole reason for the decline. There are multiple theories and hypotheses concerning the decline, but no one theory has been proven to be true.

Question 18

Most Harappan settlements were small villages, not urban centers.

Accepted Answer

While the Harappan civilization is known for its large urban centers like Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa, the majority of settlements were indeed small villages.

Question 19

The Harappan script has recently been translated and provides a wealth of information concerning trade with Mesopotamia.

Accepted Answer

Despite numerous attempts, the Harappan script remains undeciphered, and no definitive conclusions about its content, including details of trade with Mesopotamia, have been established.

Question 20

Harappan elites had elaborate burials with rich grave goods.

Accepted Answer

Harappan civilization is noted for its lack of ostentatious burials and the absence of clear indicators of social stratification in their grave goods, suggesting a more egalitarian society compared to contemporary civilizations.

Quiz 12: Locating the Source of Authority