River Valley Civilizations

Why was Egypt called the "Gift of the Nile"?

• Protection from the Nile kept invaders from entering from the north

• Fish and wildlife from the Nile were traded with neighboring civilizations

• Egyptians believed the gods had placed the Nile in Egypt as a sign of supremacy

• Irrigation from the Nile provided for farming in a desert region

The domestication of plants and animals in areas near the Indus, Huang He, Nile, and Tigris-Euphrates rivers resulted in the development of villages and cities. The growth of early settled communities contributed to —

• the development of political and religious institutions

• the rise of industrial production methods

• a nomadic lifestyle of hunters and gatherers

• cave paintings showing early man using toolsons

Which of the following is one change that directly resulted from the development of farming approximately 10,000 years ago?

• It led to the production of stone tools

• It led to the creation of settled communities

• It led to the expansion of political rights for women

• It led to the growth in the number of nomadic groups.

Which characteristic of civilization is described above?

• Government organization

• Specialization of labor

• Social stratification

• Record keeping

Which characteristic of civilization in the Indus River Valley is illustrated in the diagram?

• Economic systems

• Systems for record keeping

• Religious institutions

• Advanced urban areas

The use of pottery and textiles are related to which characteristic of early civilizations?

• Class structure

• Advanced record keeping

• Complex institutions

• Specialized workers

Which letter indicates the area of Mesopotamia?

• A

• B

• C

• D

Which of the following conclusions about the impact of physical geography in Mesopotamia is supported by the information in the excerpt?

• The constant flooding caused the area to be abandoned

• The existence of a flat plain created a barrier to invading groups

• The muddy river made it difficult to transport goods on the water

• The lack of resources generated a need for trade networks to develop

Based on information from the illustration, how did the environment of Egypt contribute to the development of a settled civilization in the region?

• Merchants needed walled cities to protect from invaders

• Farmers needed irrigation systems to grow crops

• The narrow river restricted travel to small boats

• Palm trees only grew near the river

Which geographic pattern is illustrated on the map?

• Early civilizations settled close to the equator

• Early civilizations were vulnerable to invasions

• Early civilizations depended on trade with one another.

• Early civilizations formed near fresh water sources