Unit 2 - From Gathering to Growing

What characteristic signifies the period known as prehistory?

• Language was fully evolved.

• Writing was very elementary.

• Writing did not exist in any form.

• Records were hidden away.

What characteristic signifies the period known as history?

• There are written records.

• It is a much longer period than prehistory.

• It started two million years ago.

• It started two centuries ago.

Why did towns need to be located near rivers to succeed?

• Water attracted more people.

• Establishing towns near rivers allowed for irrigation of crops.

• A water source allowed citizens to swim for exercise.

• Nearby water allowed towns to be close to the marketplace.

Which example shows how prehistoric people adapted to their environments?

• They made tools from stone.

• They made tools from melted metal.

• They fashioned clothes from plant leaves.

• They sewed furs with threads made from grasses.

Why did early farmers use slash-and-burn agriculture?

• to get rid of pests

• to get rid of old crops

• to keep the soil fertile

• to keep undergrowth from drying out the earth

How did flooding rivers contribute to the rise of farming communities?

• They irrigated the crops when they overflowed.

• They created a marshy environment good for planting.

• They provided water and stayed within their banks.

• They left rich soil when floodwaters receded.

Which group of people were the first to deliberately plant seeds?

• gatherers

• hunters

• women

• men

Which of these is a necessary feature of civilization?

• wheeled transportation

• animals

• surplus of food

• an area free from warfare

Which description of nomads is the most accurate?

• they build permanent dwellings

• they plant and farm crops

• they have no permanent home

• they may live in one location for centuries

Which statement best describes domestication?

• developing clearly defined family roles

• living in a temporary cave shelter

• farming becoming less important in most places

• taming animals for human use