Question 1

The Neolithic village of Mehrgarh was located in:
A) the Indus Valley
B) the Baluchistan Hills
C) the Ganges Valley
D) southern India

Accepted Answer

The Neolithic village of Mehrgarh was located in the Baluchistan Hills, which are in present-day Pakistan.

Question 2

By about what date is sophisticated architecture and extensive long-distance trade seen at the site of Mehrgarh:
A) 8,000 years ago
B) 6,000 years ago
C) 5,000 years ago
D) 4,000 years ago

Accepted Answer

Sophisticated architecture and extensive long-distance trade at the site of Mehrgarh date back to around 8,000 years ago, marking it as one of the earliest farming villages of the Indus Valley Civilization.

Question 3

The origins of monumental construction projects in the general region of the Indus Valley can be seen at the site of Kot Diji in the form of:
A) great palaces
B) ziggurats
C) an encompassing village wall
D) irrigation canals

Accepted Answer

The site of Kot Diji in the general region of the Indus Valley shows the origins of monumental construction projects in the form of an encompassing village wall. This wall encircled the settlement and was likely meant to protect it from outside threats. There is no evidence of great palaces or ziggurats at this site, although irrigation canals were present in the region.

Question 4

What made agriculture and habitation along the rich floodplain of the Indus River possible after 6,000 years ago:
A) irrigation
B) the use of animal dung as fertilizer
C) flood control in the form of encompassing village walls
D) deglaciation

Accepted Answer

The answer of What made agriculture and habitation along the...

Question 5

It has been estimated that each of the major ancient cities located along the Indus River controlled an area between:
A) 25,000 and 50,000 square kilometers
B) 75,000 and 100,000 square kilometers
C) 100,000 and 170,000 square kilometers
D) 220,000 and 340,000 square kilometers

Accepted Answer

The major ancient cities located along the Indus River, such as Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, were estimated to control an area between 100,000 and 170,000 square kilometers. This suggests that they were highly developed urban centers with significant political and economic power, and likely had a complex system of governance and trade relations with surrounding regions.

Question 6

The largest of the ancient Indus Valley cities, Mohenjo-daro, controlled a territory about the size of which US state:
A) Rhode Island
B) Massachusetts
C) Washington State
D) California

Accepted Answer

Mohenjo-daro controlled a territory approximately the size of Washington State, which is about 71,000 square miles.

Question 7

The "mature Harappan period" lasted from:
A) 4,500 B.P. to 4,000 B.P.
B) 5,500 B.P. to 4,500 B.P.
C) 3,350 B.P. to 3,150 B.P.
D) 6,000 B.P. to 5,000 B.P.

Accepted Answer

The mature Harappan period, also known as the Indus Valley Civilization, is generally dated from around 2600 BCE to 1900 BCE, which corresponds to 4,500 B.P. to 4,000 B.P. (Before Present).

Question 8

The major urban centers of the ancient Indus Valley were:
A) Mehrgarh and Kot Diji
B) Nagada and Hierakonpolis
C) Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro
D) all of the above

Accepted Answer

Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro were two major urban centers of the ancient Indus Valley civilization. Mehrgarh and Kot Diji were earlier settlements that predated the Indus Valley civilization, and Nagada and Hierakonpolis were urban centers of ancient Egypt.

Question 9

A common characteristic of cities large and small in the Indus Valley more than 4,000 years ago was:
A) the location of a raised area or "citadel" dominating the city
B) their precisely planned nature with parallel and perpendicular streets
C) craft specialist neighborhoods
D) all of the above

Accepted Answer

All of the above options were common characteristics of cities in the Indus Valley more than 4,000 years ago. Cities in this region were known for their raised areas or "citadels" that dominated the city skyline, as well as their precisely planned streets with parallel and perpendicular layout. These cities also had neighborhoods that were home to craft specialists, contributing to the economic and social diversity of the urban centers.

Question 10

Evidence for warfare in the ancient Indus valley civilization:
A) shows that the circumscription hypothesis applies quite well to its development
B) indicates that the citadels found in Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro were fortifications
C) is proof of social, economic, and political differentiation
D) is largely absent; warfare seems not to have contributed to its development

Accepted Answer

The Indus Valley Civilization is notable for the lack of evidence for warfare, suggesting a peaceful society. Unlike other ancient civilizations, there are no depictions of war or large-scale military structures, indicating that warfare did not significantly contribute to its development.

Question 11

Raw materials like copper, lapis lazuli, and steatite were obtained by the artisans of Mohenjo Daro were obtained from:
A) local quarries
B) Egypt
C) various sources spread across modern India, Pakstan, Iran, and Afghanistan
D) none of those materials are known to have been used at Mohenjo Daro

Accepted Answer

The raw materials like copper, lapis lazuli, and steatite were obtained by the artisans of Mohenjo Daro were obtained from various sources spread across modern India, Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan.

Question 12

The primary significance of the Harappan city of Lothal was as a:
A) port
B) a center of agricultural technology
C) a necropolis
D) the place where Buddhism originated

Accepted Answer

The primary significance of the Harappan city of Lothal was as a port, as it was located on the Gulf of Khambhat and served as an important center for maritime trade. Lothal was one of the main ports of the Indus Valley Civilization, and its location allowed it to participate in trade with regions such as Mesopotamia, the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula. Agricultural technology and necropolises were also important features of Harappan cities but were not the primary significance of Lothal. Buddhism originated much later in history, long after the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization.

Question 13

The Indus Valley written language consists of about how many distinct symbols:
A) 24
B) 135
C) 290
D) 400

Accepted Answer

The Indus Valley script is known to have around 400 distinct symbols, which were used in various combinations on seals and pottery.

Question 14

Though the Indus Valley written language has not been fully deciphered, its context implies that it mainly concerns:
A) the lineage of the ruler
B) military victories
C) worship of the many gods in the Egyptian pantheon
D) an accounting of commodities

Accepted Answer

The Indus Valley written language is mostly composed of symbols representing commodities such as grains, animals, and textiles. This suggests that it was used for accounting purposes, rather than for recording religious or political information. Therefore, choice D is the best option.

Question 15

What environmental event occurred at about the same time that the Indus Valley civilization suffered a collapse:
A) prolonged drought
B) a series of volcanic eruptions
C) a mini-ice age
D) a devastating tsunami

Accepted Answer

The most widely accepted theory for the cause of the Indus Valley civilization's collapse is a prolonged drought that occurred around 1900 BCE. The lack of water would have made it difficult to maintain the agricultural practices on which the civilization relied, leading to food shortages and a decline in the population.

Question 16

The sedentary east Asian culture with large villages with defensive walls, elaborate graves, and the use of bronze metallurgy is called:
A) Yang-shao
B) Shang
C) Lung-shan
D) Hang-t'u

Accepted Answer

The Lung-shan culture is known for its large villages with defensive walls, elaborate graves, and the use of bronze metallurgy in East Asia.

Question 17

The sites of Ch'eng tzu-yai and T'a-ssu exhibit what feature that reflects a developing system of social stratification:
A) the depiction in artwork of leaders wearing crowns
B) highly differentiated burials
C) highly differentiated family dwellings
D) all of the above

Accepted Answer

Highly differentiated burials indicate that individuals were being treated differently in death based on social status, suggesting a developing system of social stratification. Depictions of leaders wearing crowns and highly differentiated family dwellings could also potentially reflect social stratification, but burials are a more clear indicator.

Question 18

Shang is the name given to:
A) an early Neolithic culture in China
B) the first Chinese complex civilization
C) the precursor to the Khmer civilization of Cambodia
D) a mythical hero of ancient China who provided the people with the knowledge of agriculture, writing, and the trappings of civilization

Accepted Answer

Shang refers to the first Chinese complex civilization that emerged in the Yellow River Valley around 1600 BCE. They are known for their development of a system of writing using oracle bones, bronze metallurgy, and the use of horse-drawn chariots in warfare.

Question 19

The Shang Dynasty began about how long ago:
A) 4,200 years
B) 3,300 years
C) 2,400 years
D) 1,500 years

Accepted Answer

The answer of The Shang Dynasty began about how long...

Question 20

Hang-t'u is the name given to the:
A) first emperor of China
B) capital city of the Shang civilization
C) stamped-earth technique of construction
D) technique of bronze metallurgy of the early Chinese metal makers

Accepted Answer

Hang-t'u refers to the stamped-earth technique of construction used in ancient China, involving the layering and compacting of earth to create structures.

Quiz 11: An Explosion of Complexity: The Indus Valley and China

The Neolithic village of Mehrgarh was located in:

By about what date is sophisticated architecture and extensive long-distance trade seen at the site of Mehrgarh:

The origins of monumental construction projects in the general region of the Indus Valley can be seen at the site of Kot Diji in the form of:

What made agriculture and habitation along the rich floodplain of the Indus River possible after 6,000 years ago:

It has been estimated that each of the major ancient cities located along the Indus River controlled an area between:

The largest of the ancient Indus Valley cities, Mohenjo-daro, controlled a territory about the size of which US state:

The "mature Harappan period" lasted from:

The major urban centers of the ancient Indus Valley were:

A common characteristic of cities large and small in the Indus Valley more than 4,000 years ago was:

Evidence for warfare in the ancient Indus valley civilization:

Raw materials like copper, lapis lazuli, and steatite were obtained by the artisans of Mohenjo Daro were obtained from:

The primary significance of the Harappan city of Lothal was as a:

The Indus Valley written language consists of about how many distinct symbols:

Though the Indus Valley written language has not been fully deciphered, its context implies that it mainly concerns:

What environmental event occurred at about the same time that the Indus Valley civilization suffered a collapse:

The sedentary east Asian culture with large villages with defensive walls, elaborate graves, and the use of bronze metallurgy is called:

The sites of Ch'eng tzu-yai and T'a-ssu exhibit what feature that reflects a developing system of social stratification:

Shang is the name given to:

The Shang Dynasty began about how long ago:

Hang-t'u is the name given to the: