Understanding Human History and Prehistory

Approximately how long have anatomically modern humans been on Earth?

• 50,000 years

• 100,000 years

• 200,000 years

• 500,000 years

How long ago were the Egyptian pyramids constructed?

• 5,000 years ago

• 10,000 years ago

• 15,000 years ago

• 2,000 years ago

What is the main tool for understanding history?

• Fossils

• Writing

• Artifacts

• Oral traditions

What significant artifact helped unlock the meaning of Egyptian hieroglyphs?

• Dead Sea Scrolls

• Rosetta Stone

• Code of Hammurabi

• Magna Carta

Which field of study focuses on the past study of humans and human society through remains?

• Anthropology

• Paleontology

• Geology

• Archaeology

What is the primary focus of paleontology?

• Human societies

• Modern cultures

• Dinosaur bones

• Ancient tools

What dating technique is used for objects up to around 50,000 years old?

• Thermoluminescence

• Dendrochronology

• Radiocarbon dating

• Potassium-argon dating

What does the ratio of carbon-14 to carbon-12 help determine?

• The age of a fossil

• The location of a fossil

• The type of fossil

• The species of a fossil

What is stratigraphy used for in archaeology?

• Examining ancient tools

• Analyzing layers of the earth

• Dating volcanic rocks

• Studying human remains

Why should we maintain humility about our historical knowledge?

• Because history is boring

• Because history is constantly evolving

• Because history is irrelevant

• Because history is easy to understand