Ch. 2 - The First River Valley Civilizations 3500-1500 BCE - AP Review Questions

The use of mud to build the city of Mohenjo-Daro supports which of the following claims made by historians?

• The city was built on land that was once underwater, a result of significant climate change.

• Where agriculture flourished, early civilizations were able to grow in a variety of environmental areas.

• A lack of farmable land led early Indus River civilizations to center around commerce and trade instead.

• Indus River Valley use of slave labor was necessary to build such detailed buildings.

Which of the following might have been a cause for the building of a citadel on higher land in the center of a city?

• Social hierarchies were powerful in Mohenjo-Daro, and the central location of the citadel was reserved for lower-class citizens.

• This central, large building was used as housing, with the remaining buildings used mainly for trade.

• Mohenjo-Daro was a highly religious city with early roots of Hinduism found throughout the remains.

• Central buildings, like this one in Mohenjo-Daro, were often built by early rulers to gain the support of specialized military and religious elites.

The discover of precious stones from Iran and Afghanistan in the ruins of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro serves as evidence of which of the following?

• Indus Valley's widespread trading contacts allowed for interregional, cultural, and technological exchange.

• The Indus Valley civilizations were highly militaristic and pillaged conquered people's treasures.

• The Indus Valley civilizations remained geographically isolated until later conquered by expanding European civilizations.

• The Indus Valley civilizations were technologically far behind their Mesopotamian rivals.

By examining the map, which of the following conclusions can be reached?

• Though Egypt's empire expanded over time, it remained closely tied to the Nile because of its impact on agriculture.

• Egypt's empire was largely unchanged, but they transferred from an agriculture economy to a strict trade-based economy.

• Environmental factors like the Nile's flow (south to north) and the surrounding desert kept Egypt largely isolated.

• Egyptian society had few natural resources and had to rely on trade with other nations for basic needs.

All of the following led to change in the Egyptian empire indicated on the map EXCEPT

• favorable location on the Nile River.

• growing population thanks to good food production.

• consistency of the harsh, dry Sahara climate for protection.

• access to more resources for both trade and growth.

Egyptian pharaohs used which of the following methods to consolidate and affirm their power?

• Economic gifts to the people to gain favor

• Military purges designed to inspire fear

• Use of early stages of democracy as people chose the new leader

• Claims to divinity as the "divine link" between the people and the gods

Which of the following is a good comparison of Egypt and the Indus River Valley civilizations based on archaeological evidence?

• The highly developed religious iconography of the Egyptian civilization indicates Egypt was more highly favored by the gods than the Indus River Valley.

• The use of metal in utilitarian objects in Mohenjo-Daro indicates the resource was far more present in the Indus River Valley than in Egypt.

• Papyrus writing found in tombs in Egypt indicates that Egypt was far more technologically advanced than the Indus River Valley civilizations.

• The use of mud bricks to build towns like Mohenjo-Daro indicates that the Indus River Valley civilizations were far more closely tied to the river than the Egyptians.

When examining the passages from the Code of Hammurabi, which of the following statements is most accurate?

• The laws only applied to a small sector of the population and were designed to punish the less important subjects.

• The legal code concerned only the rights of men, as Mesopotamia was a patriarchal society.

• The laws were open to interpretation depending on the social class of the plaintiff.

• The legal cod was designed to provide clear examples and ensure a uniformity of decision making in lawsuits.

The law code provided supports which characteristic of Mesopotamian society that also appears to have been present in nearly all of the other early civilizations?

• Lack of trade guidelines

• Some form of social hierarchy, typically patriarchy

• Equality for all citizens under the law

• Extensive bureaucracies to facilitate government

Legal codes like the Code of Hammurabi had which of the following effects on the relationship between government and the individual?

• They replaced governmental power over people with religious ties.

• Law codes prevented the fall of autocratic governments.

• They facilitated the rule of governments over people.

• Law codes reinforced the role of women who were chief scribes.