6.08 Mesopotamian Cities and Trade

What was one of the main factors that allowed people to settle in one place and form the first cities?

• The invention of the wheel

• The development of agriculture

• The discovery of fire

• The creation of writing

Answer explanation

The development of agriculture allowed people to grow food in one place, leading to stable food supplies. This stability enabled communities to settle and eventually form the first cities, unlike the other options which did not directly support settlement.

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DOK Level 1: Recall

How did the creation of cities impact the ability to trade?

• It made trade more difficult due to increased distances.

• It allowed people to store surplus food, which could be traded.

• It eliminated the need for trade entirely.

• It restricted trade to only local goods.

Answer explanation

The creation of cities enabled the storage of surplus food, which facilitated trade. This surplus could be exchanged for other goods, enhancing trade networks and economic growth.

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DOK Level 2: Skill/Concept

Explain how the domestication of animals contributed to the formation of early cities.

• It provided a source of entertainment for city-dwellers.

• It allowed for more efficient transportation and farming.

• It led to the extinction of wild animals.

• It was a form of currency in trade.

Answer explanation

The domestication of animals allowed for more efficient transportation and farming, which supported larger populations and the development of early cities by enhancing food production and trade capabilities.

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DOK Level 2: Skill/Concept

What role did trade routes play in the exchange of ideas and cultures?

• They were only used for transporting goods.

• They facilitated the exchange of ideas, religions, diseases, and news.

• They were primarily for military conquests.

• They were used to isolate cultures from each other.

Answer explanation

Trade routes were crucial for cultural exchange, allowing the spread of ideas, religions, and even diseases. They connected diverse societies, fostering communication and interaction beyond mere goods transportation.

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DOK Level 2: Skill/Concept

Analyze how surplus food production might have led to job specialization in early cities.

• Surplus food meant everyone could become farmers.

• Surplus food allowed some people to focus on other tasks besides farming.

• Surplus food led to a decrease in population, reducing the need for jobs.

• Surplus food had no impact on job specialization.

Answer explanation

Surplus food production meant that not everyone needed to farm for survival. This allowed some individuals to pursue other roles, leading to job specialization in areas like trade, craftsmanship, and administration, which were essential for early cities.

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DOK Level 3: Strategic Thinking

Evaluate the impact of trade on the spread of diseases in early cities.

• Trade had no impact on the spread of diseases.

• Trade helped contain diseases within city boundaries.

• Trade facilitated the spread of diseases between different cultures.

• Trade eliminated diseases through the exchange of medicines.

Answer explanation

Trade facilitated the spread of diseases between different cultures by enabling the movement of people and goods, which often included pathogens. This interaction increased the likelihood of disease transmission across regions.

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DOK Level 3: Strategic Thinking

How did the exchange of goods and services through trade influence the social structure of early cities?

• It led to a uniform social structure with no class distinctions.

• It created a more complex social structure with different roles and classes.

• It caused the collapse of social structures.

• It had no influence on social structures.

Answer explanation

The exchange of goods and services through trade led to specialization and the emergence of different roles, creating a more complex social structure with distinct classes, rather than a uniform one.

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DOK Level 3: Strategic Thinking